The Los Angeles Chargers have faced plenty of injuries in their secondary, first weathering the storm with their cornerbacks, and now they are amidst another storm of injuries with their safety room. In a blowout victory against the New England Patriots in Week 17, an Elijah Molden injury put a cloud over their shining victory. Molden announced on his Instagram that his season is over with a broken Fibula, and he will be rehabbing for the 2025 season.
They are now without their unsung hero of the defense. Who is next up for the Chargers?
Elijah Molden’s 2024: A Season of Redemption
The Chargers traded for Molden in late August in hopes he would bolster their safety room and allow All-Pro safety Derwin James to play roles closer to the line of scrimmage. With a trio of James, Molden, and newly re-signed Alohi Gilman, this Chargers safety room looked very strong.
Throughout the 2024 season, James has had a complete career renaissance becoming that 2018 first-team all-pro version of himself. Gilman has been battling injuries and he has been in and out of the lineup, yet the Chargers have felt nearly zero impact from his absence.
These two major storylines of the Chargers season have happened because of the Molden trade. General Manager, Joe Hortiz got the underrated safety only for a future late draft pick.
2024 Stats (15 Games):
- 761 Defensive Snaps
- 75.6 PFF Defensive Grade (12th out of 67)
- 71.5 PFF Rush Defense Grade (29th out of 67)
- 78.5 PFF Tackling Grade (16th out of 67)
- 75.4 PFF Coverage Grade (8th out of 67)
- 75 Tackles
- 3 Interceptions
- 7 Pass Deflections
- 2 Tackles for Loss
Elijah Molden 3rd INT of the season 🔥🔥🔥pic.twitter.com/sMMR6FcKR5
— ًBoltUpYo (@BoltUpYo) November 3, 2024
Who’s Next Up in the Chargers’ Decimated Safety Room?
Tony Jefferson: “Unc” Still Got It
The long-time safety, Tony Jefferson is a San Diego native who was an UDFA in 2013. After a long nine-year career, Jefferson decided to retire and work in scouting during the 2023 season. With his connections with the Ravens (where GM Joe Hortiz is from), he was asked to un-retire and come play for the Bolts in 2024.
After an impressive preseason performance, Jefferson was used sparingly. He was being bounced up and down from the practice squad. He filled in whenever he was asked to do so, and did so with a vengeance.
Jefferson has appeared in five games and has impressed in his time in the Powder Blues. He has played 194 snaps for the Chargers, recording a 71.9 PFF defensive grade, with a 79.0 PFF Run Defense grade. His ability to be that reliable downhill safety shows on film with his 24 tackles and six stops in only five games!
Watch #Chargers Tony Jefferson 😳 pic.twitter.com/JiREzFKgSM
— Dan W. (@DanWSports) December 3, 2024
With Molden going down, the Chargers will be looking to “Unc” to be the veteran presence in their imminent playoff run.
— Tony Jefferson (@Tljefferson23) December 28, 2024
Eddie Jackson: Can the Chargers Get The Vintage Version?
As seen in the tweet above, the Chargers also have Eddie Jackson on the roster. He is a 30-year-old veteran, who at one point was one of the best safeties in the NFL. Though this was back in 2018, he still played plenty of ball and was a reliable starter for the Bears.
Now into 2024, he was on the Baltimore Ravens, playing 339 snaps for the team. He was released due to poor performance, and Hortiz went back to his Baltimore roots and picked Jackson up. Jackson has been able to learn the Chargers defense quickly, as the scheme is nearly the same as it is in Baltimore.
In his one game with the Bolts, he recorded 21 defensive snaps and a 77.2 tackling grade.
With the playoffs just a few weeks away, they needed someone who could pick up the defense quickly. He will also give the Chargers another veteran presence. If the Chargers can get even 60% of 2018 Eddie Jackson, they would be in good shape, even with the unfortunate Elijah Molden injury.
Kendall Williamson: Young Former Draft Pick
The last on this list is Kendall Williamson, a Chicago Bears 2023 seventh-round selection. He did not register a single regular season down for the Bears, bouncing around practice squads, eventually landing himself on the Chargers practice squad in October.
He was elevated to the active roster twice thus far, playing 17 snaps against the Broncos in Week 16, and two snaps in Week 17 against the New England Patriots. In Week 16, Williamson was a fine tackler but was poor in coverage. His 41.7 PFF coverage grade was noticed quickly, hence the Eddie Jackson signing.
Week 17 Williamson’s snaps were replaced by Jackson, and he finds himself likely a special teams player or back on the practice squad in a relief role.
Last Word on Elijah Molden’s Injury
Losing Elijah Molden to injury is very unfortunate for the Chargers playoff run. Molden has been incredible during his time in Los Angeles and is nearly impossible to replace. The good news is the looming return of Alohi Gilman will give the Chargers another much-needed boost.
Furthermore, Veteran backups Tony Jefferson and Eddie Jackson have been here before. They have playoff experience and will give leadership to a young Chargers secondary. Can these veterans give the Chargers the boost they need?
#Chargers secondary, led by Derwin James, DC Jesse Minter and the coaching staff, have MASSIVELY overachieved through countless injuries. The secondary:
DiCaprio Bootle
Eli Apple
Kendall Williamson
Marcus Maye
Tony Jefferson
AJ Finley
Asante Samuel Jr
Kristian Fulton
Elijah… pic.twitter.com/cUfaw8xyPD— Dan W. (@DanWSports) December 29, 2024
Main Image: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
