The Chargers are in the market for a new speed threat.
Jalen Guyton tore his ACL Sunday, marking the third long-term injury suffered in the Jaguars game. Rashawn Slater (biceps) is also out for the season, while Joey Bosa (groin) is week-to-week.
Guyton’s absence is of underrated importance, considering that Los Angeles now lacks a bona fide speed threat at wide receiver. Such a role has been an oft-criticized omission from Joe Lombardi’s offense through three weeks.
Here are a few receivers LA could look to bring onto the active roster.
Joe Reed
Reed seems the likeliest addition, considering he’s already on the Chargers’ practice squad and briefly pushed to stay on the active roster before a minor injury all but ended his preseason. Reed could also be an important addition as a kick returner, seeing that DeAndre Carter’s role is likely to expand on offense. Protecting him from taking extra hits on special teams will be an emphasis, at least in theory. A fifth-round pick in 2020, Reed has the speed to fill Guyton’s role, but his route running is a work in progress, and he’d primarily be added to the roster as a special teams player.
John Ross
If we’re talking about speed, we have to mention Ross, the owner of the fastest 40 time in NFL Combine history. Just 26 years old, Ross has struggled with lower body injuries, part of the reason he’s currently a free agent. It was reported in August that the former Washington Husky was working to rehab a knee injury he suffered last season, with hopes to catch on with a team around the start of the season. The barrier to entry for Ross is twofold, however: one, he must prove he’s healthy. Two, Brandon Staley and Joe Lombardi, have shown preference to receivers that can win at multiple levels of the field. Without designed touches in the screen game, Ross is only a deep ball threat at this stage.
Will Fuller
Fuller has shown NFL ability as recently as 2020 when he finished with career highs in receptions (53), yards (879), and touchdowns (8) with Houston. But similar to Ross, Fuller’s questions will be all about health. The 28-year-old has never played every game in a season and remains a free agent despite reported interest from multiple teams in August. Does that mean he’s asking for too much money for what he is, or is he not the player he once was because of injuries piling up?
Odell Beckham Jr.
Beckham is probably the biggest name on the wide receiver market right now, and for good reason. After forcing his way out of a bad situation in Cleveland, OBJ showed he still has the talent that made him one of the faces of the league with the Rams last season before tearing his ACL in the Super Bowl. There are a few problems with the Chargers bringing Beckham in, though. Number one: Beckham won’t be ready to contribute right away. The last report we got about his health suggested he’d be full go in October or November, a timeline that the Bolts can’t afford to stick to. Secondly, OBJ has been pretty clear that he wants to sign with a contender, and he’ll have ample time to pick and choose which teams are in that upper echelon by the time he’s ready to return. With the other injuries on this roster, LA is not likely to be on that list.
Dede Westbrook
Westbrook would likely be a practice squad signing that the Chargers elevate to give him a test run for a few weeks before committing to an active roster spot, but he checks many boxes for this team. Westbrook ran a 4.39 at the combine and played under special teams coordinator Ryan Ficken in Minnesota last season, so he knows what Ficken expects. That will be an important factor for a midseason signing, especially one expected to fill the shoes of Guyton, who was also one of Los Angeles’ punt gunners in the first three weeks.
Bo Melton
Melton was a favorite of ours at Chargers Wire during draft season because of his explosive athleticism and surprising physicality. He ended up being drafted late by the Seahawks, but they moved him to the practice squad before the season, leaving him available to teams hungry for depth at the position. That means LA potentially has the ability to right the wrong of not addressing the position in the draft. Melton is a smaller, slot-limited player, which may hurt his chances of becoming a Charger. But his college tape is full of plays at every level of the field and top-end speed. He’s the kind of receiver L.A. could use if they get creative.
Jaquarii Roberson
Roberson was a player I thought was draftable this spring, but his lack of special teams experience and value pushed him into the undrafted ranks. After being cut by the Cowboys, he latched on with the Steelers, where he’s currently on the practice squad. That, again, makes him available to teams like LA. Roberson isn’t a true burner, but he does accelerate to a pretty high gear when he gets going, and his proficiency on double moves often resulted in wide open plays at Wake Forest. Much like Melton, he’s a smaller receiver, and Roberson struggles as a blocker. But beggars can’t be choosers, and at this point, there are plenty worse options than Roberson.
