For many years, the Los Angeles Chargers have looked great on paper in the weeks leading up to the start of the NFL regular season.
Whether their starting quarterback was Philip Rivers or Justin Herbert, they’ve owned one of the most talented teams year after year, but they’ve always found ways to massively disappoint their fans.
The biggest factor where they fell short of expectations seemingly every year has been injuries, and it’s something former NFL head coach Herm Edwards reminded everyone during an episode of NFL Live.
“Historically, [the Chargers] they have always looked good. Coming out of the locker room, they are the hottest team in professional football, but they can never stay healthy.”
—Herm Edwards on the potential of the Chargers ⚡ pic.twitter.com/5eGRG5xZvv
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) June 27, 2023
Last offseason, general manager Tom Telesco was very aggressive in upgrading the defense, as his team acquired pass-rusher Khalil Mack and cornerback JC Jackson.
It looked like the Chargers would have at least one outside shot at winning the Super Bowl, something they had never done, but injuries doomed them almost from the start.
Top wide receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams each missed multiple games, while Jackson and star outside linebacker Joey Bosa each appeared in just five games.
Then came head coach Brandon Staley’s controversial decision to heavily play Williams in a no-nonsense Week 17 contest, during which Williams was injured again and unavailable for Los Angeles’ Wild Card playoff contest.
There, they took a 27-0 lead over the upstart Jacksonville Jaguars, only to lose on a last-second field goal by Riley Patterson.
Until the Chargers improve their luck when it comes to staying healthy, they’ll remain neutral no matter how much talent they can flaunt on paper.
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