2019 Chargers disappointments: Jerry Tillery
Jerry Tillery
A lot was expected out of Jerry Tillery, being the Chargers’ first-round pick and one of the top three or four defensive tackles in the draft in most mocks. Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram both needed help on the interior. Run stoppers were also needed for a porous rushing defense.
Tillery unfortunately just didn’t make the impact he was expected to in 2019. By the time the Chargers played the Jaguars in Week 14, Tillery was a healthy scratch because the coaching staff trusted Sylvester Williams more against Leonard Fournette and the Jacksonville rushing attack.
Anthony Lynn can try to reason it with matchups all he wants, but at the end of day, Tillery was a scratch because he didn’t perform throughout the season until that point. The final season stats for him certainly aren’t pretty to look at:
Final stats for Jerry Tillery: pic.twitter.com/FCGNSMln97
— Bolt Beat (@BB_Chargers) December 30, 2019
Labeling Tillery a bust as some fans and analysts have is premature, given the fact he’ll have a chance to develop further in the offseason and training camp prior to his second season. But a disappointing 2019 where he couldn’t take the reins as a starting defensive tackle has left doubts about his NFL future. The pressure is on in 2020.