The Chargers drafted wide receiver Joe Reed in the fifth-round with the hopes of him becoming an offensive chess piece. However, Reed has only made three appearances with very little production.
Reed was healthy scratches the past two games, leaving many scratching their heads, especially because he was showing some promise as the team’s returner.
Coach Anthony Lynn was asked at media availability on Friday why Reed has been inactive, and he said they’re trying to get Reed up to speed and active on game days, but that he’s just not ready yet.
Lynn pointed to the injuries in other areas and said having him active is a luxury they haven’t been able to afford the last few weeks. In other words, the team covets his return ability, but he’s still raw as a receiver.
It was thought that Reed would be used in a similar way as 49ers’ Deebo Samuel in jet sweeps, shovel passes and slants. But L.A. believes he has a lot of developing to do as a receiver despite his polarizing physical traits.
It remains to be seen when Reed will return to the action. Until then, we can expect to continue to see a receiver combination of Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Jalen Guyton, K.J. Hill and Tyron Johnson.
