The Chargers will be trimming their roster to 53 players within the next few days.
Every year, there are always cuts that surprise us all. Whether it’s due to age, to save money, or notable players that could not live up to their expectations during training camp and preseason.
For cornerback Trevor Williams, he falls under one of those categories.
After emerging in 2017, Williams’ 2018 campaign was cut short to a knee injury. A few months later, Williams entered this summer in contention for the second cornerback spot with Michael Davis.
Unfortunately, there hasn’t been much of a competition as Williams has been sidelined the majority of camp with an injury. He hasn’t practiced since before the first preseason game, and we have yet to find out the severity of the injury.
Even though the cornerback position is thin and Williams would provide valuable depth, there’s not much you can do with a player that would be taking up a spot that can’t see the field. Not to mention, Williams’ injury could be long-term for all that we know right now.
There would be a big question mark if Williams were to not remain on the team. Casey Hayward, Desmond King, Michael Davis and Brandon Facyson would be the main four guys, leaving one spot open. They could keep a guy like Jeff Richards, utilize the safeties’ versatility or dip into the free agency pool.
It’s not the most ideal group that they would wish to boast Week 1, but coach Anthony Lynn might feel like it’s the most necessary.
Lynn recently said, “The best 53 is not always the right 53 that you need to build a team, chemistry and playing together — a lot of the core values we believe in here. I think you need the right guys, and sometimes it’s not always the best guys.”
If Williams were to be cut, Los Angeles can save all of his $2.025 million salary-cap hit. Given how the Chargers don’t have the most money available, it would give them some more leeway to make last second acquisitions.
We’re not saying this will happen, but it’s something worth monitoring as cutdown day approaches.
