Chargers bring back defensive lineman Damion Square
By Travis Wakeman
The Los Angeles Chargers have added more depth along the defensive line, bolstering what was one of the team’s biggest weaknesses heading into this offseason.
The team chose not to offer a new deal to free-agent defensive lineman Damion Square before free agency started, instead focusing resources elsewhere. The Chargers then landed Jerry Tillery and Cortez Broughton in the draft.
Still sitting on the open market was Square, a six-year NFL veteran who has spent the past five seasons with the Chargers. It made sense to bring him back into the fold.
Sqaure will likely have to fight for a roster spot, but during the time he is with the team, he can bring invaluable experience that he can bestow upon the rest of the defensive line. Like many of the players Tom Telesco covets, Square is a versatile athlete who has made starts at both defensive end and defensive tackle.
It seemed odd when the Chargers went into free agency with three of their own defensive linemen entering the open market and the team made no effort to bring them back. Now, Telesco’s plan is starting to come full circle and it looks anything but odd.
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The Chargers already had what may be considered the best defense in the league. This only makes it better.
Square played in all 16 games for the team last season. For his career, the one-time member of the Alabama Crimson Tide has 73 combined tackles, 5.5 sacks and seven pass deflections. He won’t push for a starting job this time around, but he can still be a force on this team with a good shot to make the final roster.
And as mentioned, the knowledge he can pass on to young players such as Tillery and Broughton based on his familiarity with the system is worth the one-year deal he was given alone.