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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Robert Zeglinski

Chargers fans are still furious Brandon Staley played now-injured Mike Williams in a meaningless game

Brandon Staley Mike Williams Chargers Sean Payton Jaguars NFL

As one of the hotter teams down the stretch of the 2022 NFL season, the Los Angeles Chargers could’ve begun their playoff run with all their valuable horses in the stable. Instead, with the team’s matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars looming on Saturday, they might be without vital playmaker Mike Williams. And head coach Brandon Staley seems to be the one likely at fault.

You see, the Chargers had nothing to play for during their regular season finale against the Denver Broncos. Already locked in as the AFC’s No. 5 seed, Los Angeles probably would’ve been better served to rest essential starters ahead of a hopeful deep playoff run. That didn’t happen.

And when Mike Williams injured his back during the matchup — a problem dating back to the start of his career — folks weren’t happy with Staley’s recklessness in a game that meant nothing.

As it unsurprisingly turns out, Williams now appears to be a game-time decision against the Jaguars:

Thanks to the prowess of Justin Herbert, the Chargers may well leave Jacksonville and advance to the Divisional Round anyway. But it’s definitely going to be more challenging if one of their top weapons in Williams can’t go. And should that happen, you have to think Staley will regret his late-season decision-making — when his team had nothing to play for — if L.A. gets eliminated.

NFL fans remained angry with Staley for playing Williams in a game that had no bearing on the Chargers' playoff seeding

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