Chargers: 3 things left for team to play for in 2019

Player progression

This will only apply if the coaching staff decides to play some of the players talked about here a little bit more. Why not get Jerry Tillery and Trey Pipkins more snaps? Their rookie years have been a complete waste to this point, so the team really should consider getting them some more playing time.

What about a guy like Justin Jackson? We saw him get some carries last week against the Minnesota Vikings after Melvin Gordon lost a couple of fumbles, but the Chargers should think about leaning on him a bit more.

Gordon is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason and Jackson could emerge as a key offensive piece if Gordon goes elsewhere.

Then there is the offensive line, which includes Pipkins. The Chargers really need to find a good combination along the unit and decide which players they want to build the group around and where there are spots that need to be replaced.

It would be nice for the team to win its final two games, but seeing what they have and perhaps don’t have for next season is more important. As such, you can view it as almost a preseason approach with these players.

But particularly with the rookies Tillery and Pipkins, both should be on the field more. Along with Nasir Adderley, the team’s first three draft picks have done next to nothing this season and no matter how you look at it, that is a failure.

The Chargers were 12-4 last season and one of the last eight teams playing. They appeared to be one or two pieces away from contending for the Super Bowl. When they deciding to be conservative in free agency, Tom Telesco was pretty much saying he felt he could find those pieces in the draft.

He didn’t even come close.