San Diego Chargers: Getting To Know Your Roster Depth

I’m beginning a new weekly feature with BoltBeat.com on helping our readers to get to know the San Diego Chargers roster depth better.

In this day and age of the NFL, injury reports are filled with players nursing various ailments each week; teams need good depth between roster spots 30-53 if they’re planning to play through the month of January.

The Chargers offensive line is having difficulty developing any form of chemistry on the field, and that’s largely due to the majority of the starters missing significant playing time this season. This week is no exception, as the Chargers could be without three starters against the Cleveland Browns at the Q on Sunday. LT King Dunlap (concussion), LG Orlando Franklin (ankle) and C Chris Watt (groin) are all game-time decisions.

This week’s feature is the Chargers offensive line depth:

C Trevor Robinson

Trevor Robinson is one of the few Chargers on the depth chart to have NFL starting experience; thankfully the backups on the offensive line own the majority of those appearances. Robinson started one game last season for San Diego and recorded seven career starts during his stay with the Cincinnati Bengals. He quickly develop a rapport with Philip Rivers, which is highly impressive considering it seemed like the Chargers were starting a new center every week last season.

C/G J.D. Walton

Give kudos to Chargers GM Tom Telesco for acting fast and signing J.D. Walton earlier this week as a much-needed reinforcement on the offensive line. Walton was the starting center for the New York Giants last season, and has played in Chargers head coach Mike McCoy’s offensive system during their time together in Denver. It’s a safe assumption that Walton is more than capable to make a contribution at either the guard or center position if called upon.

G Michael Ola

The Chargers made a late addition to the active roster on Saturday, as the team released Donald Brown and promoted Michael Ola off their practice squad. He started 12 games for the Chicago Bears last season and played two years in the CFL with the Montreal Alouettes. Ola may lack experience in pass-blocking, but his size and strength should help establish the Chargers power running game.

C/G/T Kenny Wiggins

Kenny Wiggins is a versatile offensive lineman that has bounced around the league on several different (San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens and San Diego Chargers) practice squads. Wiggins has been apart of the Chargers organization since 2013, as he shuttled between active roster and the practice squad several times during his tenure. The coaching staff is very comfortable inserting him anywhere along the offensive front, as Wiggins can play all five positions.

T Tyreek Burwell

Rookie offensive lineman Tyreek Burwell was promoted to the active roster from the practice squad earlier this week, as the Chargers feel his athleticism will transfer very well to the NFL. How athletic? Well, Burwell began his collegiate career as a tight end at SUNY-Cortland, and actually caught a touchdown pass in 2012. The original plan was to stash this first-year undrafted free agent away on the practice squad all year, but injuries have voided that luxury for the moment.