Chargers' kicking units fine, but the rest not so special - Los Angeles Times
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Chargers’ kicking units are fine, but the rest is not so special

With Ty Long holding, the Chargers' Michael Badgley kicks a field goal last season against the Broncos in Denver.
With Ty Long holding, the Chargers’ Michael Badgley kicks a field goal last season against the Broncos in Denver.
(Justin Edmonds / Getty Images)
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As the Chargers prepare for the NFL draft, The Times will examine their roster. Part 5 of 10: Special teams.

Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, a video appeared on social media of Michael Badgley successfully converting a field goal.

OK, so the kicker was actually in his living room and, instead of a football, he was booting a roll of toilet paper. But, hey, the Chargers do have a trusted kicker and people are craving sports, so why not celebrate a little?

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Badgley missed half the 2019 season because of injury but still the Chargers, unlike recent history, had little to no kicking drama. The problem for a team that would finish a disappointing 5-11 was the drama that happened everywhere else.

In Badgley’s absence, Chase McLaughlin and Ty Long handled the placekicking admirably. Long, who came from the CFL, also was reliable as a punter, the reason the Chargers signed him in the first place.

So with Badgley and Long, this team appears to be set when it comes to putting the foot in football.

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Nose tackle Linval Joseph signed with the Chargers in March to combine with defensive ends Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram and pressure quarterbacks.

April 12, 2020

One special-teams area where the Chargers are looking to add is kick returner. Desmond King handled the majority of the returns last year and has proven to be a weapon with the ball in his hands. In 2018, King was named second team All-Pro as a punt returner.

Reserve running back Justin Jackson also has been used to bring back kickoffs, and the Chargers recently signed wide receiver Darius Jennings as a potential option.

They have been hurt this offseason by the free-agent loss of Adrian Phillips, an All-Pro special teamer in 2018.

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Linebacker Nick Dzubnar and wide receiver Geremy Davis, two other recognized special-teams contributors, also have departed.

And with linebacker Drue Tranquill assuming a more significant role on defense, the Chargers certainly will need to fortify their special teams for 2020.

Making up for the loss of Thomas Davis at linebacker will be a challenge for the Chargers, but the addition of tackle magnet Nick Vigil should help.

April 11, 2020

Under contract for 2020: King ($2.203 million), Jennings ($775,000), Jackson ($750,000), Badgley ($750,000), Long ($695,000), long snapper Cole Mazza ($675,000).

Free agents: The Chargers have a history of finding talent among the pool of undrafted players. That’s another area where general manager Tom Telesco will again look to add special-teams depth.

Draft: The Chargers are in need of speed, something they hope to address, particularly at wide receiver, during the draft. Adding a swift wideout who can also return kicks would be a plus.

Roster decisions: The Chargers would love to have no decisions to make regarding kicker, punter and long snapper in 2020. Mazza took over long snapping last season and finished without a single hiccup. Identifying at least a couple of new options as returners will be one of the goals of training camp and the preseason.

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NEXT: Tight ends.

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