The Los Angeles Chargers will be without their top cornerback for the rest of the 2017 season and potentially for good.
The Chargers are a team known for dealing with a plethora of injuries. For cornerback Jason Verrett, his injury woes continue.
According to ESPN insider Adam Schefter, Verrett will undergo knee surgery, which will end his season.
Big blow to LA defense: Chargers CB Jason Verrett has decided to undergo season-ending knee surgery, per source. Will go on IR.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 23, 2017
Not only does this hurt the Chargers’ defense, but it has to be mentally devastating for Verrett, who just can’t seem to stay on the field
Verrett, the No. 25 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, had the talent to be one of the best corners in the game. Unfortunately, he has never played a full, 16-game season in his four-year career. The 26-year-old missed 24 total games coming into this season and was recovering from a partially torn ACL suffered last season. He played in the team’s season opener against the Denver Broncos but was held out last week due to a knee injury.
Earlier in the week head coach Anthony Lynn said it was a week-to-week issue, per ESPN, but clearly Verrett wasn’t fine.
The Chargers picked up Verrett’s fifth-year option in the offseason. According to OverTheCap.com, Verrett is scheduled to make $8,526,000 in guaranteed money in 2018. Like what the Chargers did with guard D.J. Fluker this offseason, they might not believe Verrett is worth that kind of money and could release him prior to the deadline. Verrett and DE Jerry Attaochu, who is also dealing with another injury, are currently the only members left from the 2014 draft class and might not be on the roster next season (eek).
With Verrett out, the Chargers are lucky enough to have Casey Hayward, who is in the second year of his three-year, $15 million deal, on the field. 2016 undrafted free agent Trevor Williams, who played exceptionally well as a starter last week, and 2017 fifth-rounder Desmond King will look to step up in Verrett’s absence.
Regardless if they keep Verrett, the Chargers will definitely need to draft another cornerback next year.