In a preseason game where barely any starters played on either side, the Los Angeles Chargers backups on defense came out and had an overall strong night. They gave up quite a lot of yards, but were quite proficient at forcing turnovers. In the process, they may very well have put the nail in the coffin for a former first-round quarterback’s career.
Chargers Backups on Defense Impress In Preseason Week 3
The Nathan Peterman Treatment (Sort Of)
The Chargers defense had a total of five interceptions against the Dallas Cowboys and former second overall pick, Trey Lance — who played the whole game. Despite the comparison to Nathan Peterman — who infamously threw five picks in one half against the Chargers in 2017 — these were over the course of the whole game, not in one quarter.
There’s also the fact that they gave up a lot more yards than that other game. Lance passed for 323 yards plus 90 rushing. Still, he only had two total touchdowns and the team lost 26-19. This is still a pretty embarrassing performance for Lance — he did this against mostly third and fourth-stringers, many of who won’t even be on the team in three days. Hence why this could be a backbreaker for an already disappointing career.
Five Interceptions From… Who?
Even a fairly devoted Chargers fan could be forgiven for not knowing almost any of the players that made interceptions or other big plays. Aside from Tony Jefferson (who has been mostly out of football the last few years), these are undrafted free agents or perennial practice squad types we’re talking about. Jefferson did have the best night of anybody on the team with two interceptions, and may have suddenly made a late push for the final roster.
After that… the guys who got interceptions? Tre’Mon Morris-Bash (and a pick-six at that). Matt Hankins. Robert Kennedy. Morris-Bash and Kennedy are both UDFA’s. Hankins and Kennedy are both cornerbacks, and with too much young talent the team is more invested in, they don’t have a prayer at making the roster. Morris-Bash — an outside linebacker/edge rusher — might have an outside shot, but only if the Chargers keep a fifth edge.
Meaningless?
The Chargers got three sacks on the night — one by Jefferson, one by Chris Collins, and one by Morris-Brash. Another notable player was Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste — second on the team in tackles. Once again, both Collins and Jean-Baptiste are both players without much of a prayer at making the roster — both are UDFAs, and there’s too many players ahead of them whose roster spots are locked in. At best they are fighting for practice squad spots.
So what we are looking at here is a game consisting of good performances — mostly from players who we probably won’t be seeing again. Does this mean anything, then — apart from dealing a blow to the career of Trey Lance? A couple of players may be making pushes for roster spots, but overall, it would not appear to be important on paper.
The flip-side, however, is that one should want to have good backups and practice squad players on hand if you run into injury trouble. The Chargers have dealt with more than their fair share of that for the past decade. Even if the new strength and conditioning guy Ben Herbert is able to make the team less injury-prone, you still want to be prepared for the worst. Jim Harbaugh did say in the press conference that, with the practice squad, “It’s really a 71 or 72 [roster].” Evidently he views them as being important as well. Whether such players would do well against stronger competition is another matter, but some players have definitely earned that chance–if the need should arise (and we hope it does not).
Main Photo: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
