Los Angeles Chargers: Team brings back Kenny Wiggins on one-year deal
By Travis Wakeman
The Los Angeles Chargers have targeted the offensive line almost exclusively during the free-agent process this offseason. On Friday, the team re-signed offensive lineman Kenny Wiggins to a one-year deal.
The team has already decided to move on from D.J. Fluker and King Dunlap while also signing former first-round pick Russell Okung to come in and man one of the two tackle spots. The move to keep Wiggins is designed to create depth within the unit, but he’ll have to prove he deserves a roster spot in camp this summer.
An undrafted free agent out of Fresno State, Wiggins spent one season with the Baltimore Ravens before joining the San Francisco 49ers. After two years there, he was brought in by the Chargers in 2013.
He’s played in 29 career games with nine starts, all of which came with the Chargers. He started eight games in 2015 and then jumped into the starting lineup last season against the Cleveland Browns in place of an injured Orlando Franklin.
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This season, the Chargers will have Franklin at one of the guard spots, but the other side remains a bit of a mystery. Will they move Matt Slauson over and start Max Tuerk at center? Or will a guy like Donovan Clark prove he’s worthy of a starting spot? Either way, Wiggins will be competing for a reserve role with the team.
Since the 2016 season ended, the Chargers have re-signed several of their own free agents, including Melvin Ingram, Jahleel Addae, Kellen Clemens and Wiggins. Players like Manti Te’o, Tourek Williams, Sean Lissemore and Branden Oliver remain available.