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Chargers content with watching Philip Rivers fail on Monday

By Tyler Schoon

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 07: Clelin Ferrell #96 of the Oakland Raiders sacks Philip Rivers #17 of the Los Angeles Chargers at RingCentral Coliseum on November 07, 2019 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 07: Clelin Ferrell #96 of the Oakland Raiders sacks Philip Rivers #17 of the Los Angeles Chargers at RingCentral Coliseum on November 07, 2019 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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The Chargers have not made a significant move to bolster their offensive line all season. Are they setting up Philip Rivers to fail on Monday?

Tom Telesco believed he had both offensive tackle positions figured out prior to the 2019 NFL season. After all, on one side, he had a Pro-Bowl offensive tackle who had not missed a game with the Chargers so far. On the other, Sam Tevi was going to make the jump to an above-average starter on the right side. As insurance, Trey Pipkins was drafted (early) in the third round. Should there be more of an issue with injuries, Forrest Lamp could kick outside and play tackle.

Flash forward to Week 11 of this season, and three of those four names are not going to play when the Chargers head to Mexico City to play the Kansas City Chiefs. So what’s their plan to protect Philip Rivers, whose offensive tackles allowed nine pressures, three quarterback hits, and three sacks against a Raiders team that struggled to rush the passer for most of the season? Here’s the plan: Do nothing, add no one, and hope for the best.

Funny, doesn’t that remind you of what they did in the offseason?

Here are the backup tackles on the roster who can protect Rivers in case one of his “starters” goes down:

  1. Tyree St. Louis (rookie)

End of list. At most, Michael Schofield could move to tackle, but that leaves the interior more vulnerable, which is arguably more disastrous for Rivers.

When there’s a long-snapper illness, the Chargers immediately bring another in. If Roderic Teamer can’t play, the team activates other practice squad safeties to make sure there are enough in the rotation. So why on earth can’t they take more precautions considering their most valuable player’s health is at stake (as is the season) and he just got walloped on Thursday Night Football?

Next. Who are the greatest Chargers over the past decade?

Rivers is constantly under duress, and his poor decisions and untimely interceptions are a direct result of the pressure he feels on every snap. But that’s fine, the Chargers are completely content with letting No. 17 figure out his offense and protect himself. A report just came out revealing Rivers is going to weigh his options in the offseason. I wonder why?

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