Chargers defensive end Melvin Ingram has made headlines after refusing to practice due to being dissatisfied with his current contract.
Uncertain whether or not Ingram will carry his holdout into the regular season, this could lead to more snaps for third-year pass-rusher Uchenna Nwosu.
Since entering the league in 2018, Nwosu has primarily backed up Ingram at LEO, getting snaps when Ingram would come off the field, which had not been very often.
Los Angeles even rotated Nwosu in as a strongside linebacker in an attempt to get him on the field more. But he showed to be more efficient when playing up at the line of scrimmage.
The former USC product has made his presence known on a consistent basis in the limited capacity. In two seasons, Nwosu has totaled 59 tackles, 17 quarterback hits, eight tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks.
Even though the 23-year old has only played a role as a rotational pass-rusher, his impact has gone a long way towards the team’s defensive success in the past couple of season.
“He’s pretty locked in on being that LEO for us,” Chargers defensive coordinator Gus Bradley said about Nwosu.
Bradley said Nwosu bulked up to about 250 pounds for a potential permanent move to defensive end.
If Nwosu performs well in the absence of Ingram, that could be the ultimate determining factor if the franchise chooses to keep the 31-year old for one more go around.
