The Los Angeles Chargers offense has struggled to move the ball since losing several playmakers to injury. In recent games, they have been without several key members, including Ladd McConkey (The Chargers top receiver.), JK Dobbins (Their leading rusher.), and Will Dissly (Their top non-WR pass catcher).
The result has been very evident. They have scored just 17 points in each of their last three games. If that was their season points per game average, they would be tied for 31st.
Hayden Hurst Could Add A Necessary Burst To Chargers Offense
But in some good news, the Chargers have welcomed back tight end Hayden Hurst from the injured reserve. While he was limited in practice and officially listed as questionable to play in Thursday Night’s game against the AFC West division rivals, the Denver Broncos, there is a chance he can play.
Hurst has been on IR since November 25th but has been struggling with injury since the end of September, playing just 24 snaps between Week 6 and now.
His return comes at a time of maximum need as Dissly has now been ruled out for Thursday night. Dissly missed the second half of the Chiefs game and was ruled out of last weekend’s game due to a shoulder injury.
While Dissly has been out they have relied heavily on Stone Smartt, while rotating Tucker Fisk and Eric Tomlinson in as well. Smartt has proven to be a competent pass catcher, hauling in eight catches for 104 yards in a game and a half, but remains a liability as a blocker.
Hurst’s addition to the lineup could help alleviate the imbalance.
The Chargers offseason moves at the tight end suggest they wanted to run a heavy dose of two tight end sets, but as currently constructed, they have run 22 and 12 personnel packages on just nine percent of their offensive snaps. Furthermore, they rank 29th lining up in 12 personnel (one RB, two TEs). The last time offensive coordinator Greg Roman oversaw an offense, he ran 12 on 22 percent of snaps, or 8th most in the league.