The Los Angeles Chargers are coming off a bye-week with the hopes of getting more healthy. However, in very Chargers fashion they have actually come off the bye week less healthy than before. With key players like Gus Edwards, Asante Samuel Jr, Joey Bosa, and many others all out or questionable, this team will be looking toward the depth they have built for this exact situation.
The Questionable Guys: Chances of Playing
The cornerback room is the position group to be tested this week from injury. As mentioned before, Asante Samuel Jr will be out, slot cornerback Ja’Sir Taylor will be out once again, and now Kristian Fulton and Deane Leonard are both questionable to play on Sunday against this Denver Broncos team. What are the chances both Fulton and Leonard play this week?
full #LACvsDEN game status pic.twitter.com/3CsDXHlBOr
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) October 11, 2024
Kristian Fulton: A Debut on the Chargers Injury Report
Fulton has been a mainstay on this Chargers defense constantly making plays as the Chargers best cornerback. The underrated free-agent pickup makes his debut on the injury report after being listed with a knee injury. The severity of the injury is unknown but likely not something to be of much concern. He registered a “did not participate” on Wednesday but then followed up the next two days of practice as a full participant. With back-to-back full practices for Fulton; him being as questionable should be nothing more than a precaution. Expecting him to play is not a stretch… especially considering the rest of the cornerback room suffering with injuries.
Kristian Fulton ranks fifth in PFF grade in coverage of 82.3 among cornerbacks and third overall with a grade of 82.5
Kristian Fulton also has only been targeted 12 times tied for least in the NFL with Jalen Ramsey pic.twitter.com/KaFCKlD5RT
— ChargersMuse (@ChargersMuse) October 10, 2024
Deane Leonard: When He Is Needed the Most, He is Also on The Chargers Injury Report
The next questionable cornerback on the bolts is the aforementioned Leonard. He would likely be the first man up if any of the starting outside cornerbacks; Fulton or Samuel Jr. were to be out. With Samuel Jr. already being declared out for the week and Fulton as questionable, having Leonard also listed as questionable is really rough for the Chargers. He is listed with a hamstring injury with a “did not participate” on Wednesday and two limited participations on Thursday and Friday respectively. This amount of practice participation definitely leans to the side of Leonard missing this week but making a return the week after.
It will be unfortunate for the Chargers to lose another player to injury. The former seventh-round pick has been a very good depth piece for this Chargers team, ascending to the point where he was considered before the season a dark-horse breakout candidate as a potential starter.
Chargers Day Three Rookies Likely to Step Up
The Chargers have gone games without some of their Safeties on the injury or suspended report but have not felt major injury concerns within their cornerback room. In preparation for this scenario, General Manager Joe Hortiz drafted two cornerbacks in the fifth round.
Tarheeb Still Stepping in as the Starter at Nickel Cornerback
One of these cornerbacks made his first career start for Ja’Sir Taylor, who is also on the Chargers injury report. He is out this week. That would be Chargers fifth-round rookie Tarheeb Still. In his first start against the Kansas City Chiefs, he had four tackles, a sack, two stops, and a PFF grade of 63.7. Pretty good start for a fifth-round rookie. Jim Harbaugh went out of his way to compliment Still, commenting: “Arrow up. I thought he played a really good game. And that’s exciting. He’s done a great job and acquitted himself really well in our last game vs. the Chiefs.”
Expect Still to continue his development against a weak Broncos receiving corps, even though the other cornerbacks around him are on the sidelines injured. If he does play well again, that begs the question: Does he keep the starting job when Taylor comes back? The two were in a camp battle this off-season, and even though Still lost, he caught the attention of ESPN.
Hart to Start: The Hyped Rookie Likely to Make His Debut
Cam Hart, a draft class favorite was drafted in the fifth round much later than many expected him to go. With great size, speed, and film, he felt like a no-brainer day two selection. Jim Harbaugh and Hortiz at the point of drafting Hart already selected Still, but saw the value and ended up taking him with their other fifth-round selection. The returns for the selection came early, showing promise in training camp. Hart now has a chance to prove to them that he was worth that selection in the regular season, and is more than just an off-season champion.
The rookie has only played four defensive snaps all season, all of which came against the Carolina Panthers. These four snaps yielded a tackle for a one-yard gain and a 78.8 PFF grade. Most of his work has come through special teams, having 64 snaps in four games. Special Teams coach, Ryan Ficken spoke highly of Hart, saying: “he has great demeanor, his composure… especially for a young guy.” With Samuel Jr. listed out, Leonard likely not to play, and Fulton likely not being 100%, it will be up to Hart to make the start for the Bolts.
Main Image: Jayne Kamin-Oncea – USA Today Sports
