The Los Angeles Chargers have been far from injury-immune this season and perhaps the hardest his group has been the secondary. Starting cornerback Asante Samuel has already missed four games while on the injured reserve due to a shoulder injury. Backup corner, Deane Leonard, who is also on the IR, has missed six games straight games. And starting corner Kristian Fulton has been limited or inactive for the last five games.
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Chargers Secondary Getting Healthier
Today the Chargers provided updates on two of the three; Deane Leonard’s window to return to action has been opened and Kristian Fulton made his return to the practice field on Wednesday for the first time since before their Week 8 game against the New Orleans Saints.
Since they have been out, they have leaned heavily on rookies Cam Hart, who has played nearly every snap over the last five games, and Tarheeb Still, who has played nearly as much as Hart.
The team also added free-agent cornerback Eli Apple in mid-October and traded for safety Elijah Molden slightly before the season. Apple has played a handful of snaps over the last two weeks, but Molden has carved out a spot for himself as a free safety, which has allowed the versatile defensive back Derwin James freedom to roam and aid in the slot.
These moves have allowed the Chargers’ defense to maintain its high level of play in the face of these injuries. They are Pro Football Focus’ 4th highest-graded coverage unit with a grade of 80.8. Getting Leonard and Fulton back healthy will be a boon to that grade, they are both in the top five among Chargers defenders in PFF’s coverage grade.
The rookies Hart and Still, have the team’s 4th and 5th-best opposing NFL passer rating when targeted.
