Chargers release Justin Jackson to make room for Antonio Gates

The Los Angeles Chargers have released 7th round draft pick RB Justin Jackson in order to make room for Antonio Gates.

We all wanted to see Justin Jackson get some action in the preseason, but a nagging injury kept him off of the field until the final week. By that time, Detrez Newsome made the most of the snaps he was able to steal.

When the final 53 came, Justin Jackson was able to make it onto the roster for the first round of cuts, but in order for the Chargers to make room for Antonio Gates, he was released off of the roster.

The Chargers have made the re-signing of TE Antonio Gates official and, in a corresponding move, waived RB Justin Jackson (R, Northwestern). L.A. also announced the signing of 2nd year TE Thomas Duarte (UCLA) to the team's practice squad.

— Will Reeve Jr. (@WillReeveJr) September 3, 2018

If the Chargers are able, Jackson will likely be someone the team brings back onto their practice squad. He made it through the first round of cuts and he could be someone the team looks to develop more on the roster.

Los Angeles Chargers

Jackson was drafted to be the 3rd running back on the roster behind Melvin Gordon and Austin Ekeler, but he wasn’t able to get going in the preseason. Injuries kept him off of the field and he couldn’t catch up in time.

Detrez Newsome is the main reason why Jackson couldn’t make the roster though. Over and over again, Newsome was breaking off a big chunk of yards and then back flipping in the end zone. I don’t even know how he kept breaking off the runs, but it seemed to happen consistently. There wasn’t much flash, but he found the hole and attacked it hard and often times found running room.