Los Angeles Chargers position battles: Trevor Williams vs. Michael Davis
By Travis Wakeman
After missing nearly half of the 2018 season, Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Trevor Williams will have to prove he’s worthy of still being a starter.
Some many see this as overthinking things, but the Chargers don’t exactly have a clear-cut No. 2 cornerback on the other side of Casey Hayward. Sure, Williams is likely expected to be the starter by most, but don’t tell Michael Davis that.
Davis came in to relieve an injured Williams last season and played in every game for the team. He finished the season with 50 tackles, eight pass deflections and two forced fumbles. He made some mistakes in coverage but for the most part played pretty well and as a result, should get a chance to claim the job this summer.
The Chargers would love to see Williams play as he did in 2017 when he took over for an injured Jason Verrett. He had 56 tackles, two interceptions and 13 pass breakups that year. He will look to bounce back from the knee injury that ended his season last year, but he won’t just be gifted the job.
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Desmond King will still serve as the team’s nickel back and be one of the defenses true playmakers, but the starting role on the outside should come down to Williams and Davis.
That may not excite Chargers fans who may believe that it’s not a great sign that these two players, both undrafted when they came into the league, are the team’s best options. The Chargers don’t have many chinks in their armor, but the No. 2 cornerback spot could certainly be one of them.
If Williams can return to his 2017 form, he should win the position. But Davis was given a taste of what it was like to be a starter last season and the experience he gained could help fuel him to his best year with the team in 2019.
This will be one to keep an eye on in camp and preseason games.