When it comes to obtaining TCU receivers, the Los Angeles Chargers are probably the best at doing so. After a brutal beatdown for the Pittsburgh Steelers, where injuries and miscues piled up, the Chargers took their first loss of the season. In classic Joe Hortiz fashion, he started to look for new players to add to the roster. Jalen Reagor and Blake Lynch are here to improve the team after a loss. Losing is not acceptable, and change must be made. This is a new thing for Charger fans.
Chargers Special Teams Gets Massive Boost After Brutal Loss
Jalen Reagor – Past to Present
When you hear the name Jalen Reagor, it is likely not in a context that is uplifting to him as a player. He was a player with very high expectations, and he played for a team with a brutal fanbase. The Philadelphia Eagles. He did not live up to his draft status as the former 21st overall pick and was plagued with brutal drops.
After two seasons of disappointment with the Eagles, he found some success with the Minnesota Vikings and New England Patriots. He was a solid returner who actually housed a kick return last season. This coupled with some production on offense, has had a very minor career renaissance.
Jalen Reagor to the HOUSE 💨 pic.twitter.com/iVa0D3pRRt
— Boston Cream 🍩 (@itsbostoncream) December 31, 2023
Unfortunately, he did not return to the Patriots for very long, where he had arguably his best season as a special teamer and offense addition. The Chargers have now signed him to the practice squad.
What is the Former First Round Pick’s Suspected Role?
Now that Jalen Reagor is on the practice squad officially, he is expected to pick up the Chargers special teams, and eventually offense. Let’s get this out of the way quickly; he is unlikely to garner many, if at all, any offensive snaps.
As a special teams addition, wherein he is expected to contribute, he could make a very strong push for a return role. The Chargers current starting returner is another TCU receiver, who was drafted in the fourth round last year. Derius Davis is coming off a second-team all-pro season but has yet to find his footing in the new kickoff structure.
He has regressed both as a kick and punt returner, but his calling has always been returning punts. That is expected to continue. However, for kickoffs, he is averaging a very low 21.3 yards per return. In the previous kick-off structure, Reagor averaged 31.6 yards per return. Reagor is expected to push for the starting kick-returner job.
Ficken’s Favorite: Blake Lynch
The second of the two players signed by the Chargers was Blake Lynch. He is a familiar face with the Bolts, coming in last season and having a few strong performances in the preseason and off-season. He was a contributor on special teams later in the season, playing well for the Ryan Ficken-led group.
Blake Lynch has plenty of experience with Ficken, as I mentioned in a previous article when the Chargers first signed him over a year ago;
“Lynch has played under Ryan Ficken for the Vikings special teams, leading to his connection and signing with the Chargers. During his time with the Vikings, he started seven games, six of which came in 2021. During that six-game stretch, Lynch played pretty well, earning himself a 64.6 PFF grade for the entirety of the season.”
The quote also touches on his ability to play defense. This was years ago, but he has shown flashes and is only 27 years old. However, under Jesse Minter, is unlikely that Lynch will see much defensive play.
This move was an obvious want from Ryan Ficken to improve his special teams group.
Last season, Lynch was with the Bolts and recorded an 80.8 PFF grade on ST. This was 4th on the team with a 20% snap minimum.
Familiarity + he can be elevated now that Shaq Quarterman cannot. https://t.co/AeZvUjSUwC
— Nate Gosney (@NateGosney) September 24, 2024
The reasoning for the signing of Lynch is to improve the lackluster special teams play we have seen thus far in 2024, and give the Chargers more depth at linebacker as Nick Niemann is still yet to return from injury. This move was also to allow Shaq Quarterman to stay on the practice squad as he is out of elevations. The Chargers are letting Joe Hortiz cook.
Main Image: Eric Canha – USA Today Sports
