Travis Benjamin leaves LA Chargers with a whimper

Travis Benjamin has likely played his final game with the LA Chargers.

They say that the month of March sometimes comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. That could accurately explain the tenure of Travis Benjamin with the Chargers. That is if you consider 47 receptions for 677 yards and four touchdowns coming in like a lion.

But those were the best stats that Benjamin posted for the team and that took place in 2016, his first season with the Chargers.

After three fairly successful seasons with the Cleveland Browns, highlighted by a big 2015 season that included 68 receptions, Benjamin was one of the team’s prized signings in 2016. He signed a four-year, $24 million deal with the team.

But his statistics took a dip in each of his four seasons with the team and in 2019, he caught just six passes all season. On Tuesday, it was reported that the Chargers will not bring Benjamin back.

That marks the second veteran the Chargers have moved on from this offseason, as Benjamin joins Philip Rivers. the Chargers are looking to go in a much different direction in 2020 and though neither of those moves was a huge surprise, it does reinforce that idea.

Benjamin is a shifty wide receiver that wins almost exclusively due to his speed. But his time with the Chargers was marred by drops and boneheaded decisions, like this one:

Travis Benjamin definitely now in the conversation for worst punt return in NFL history #Chargers #Patriots pic.twitter.com/r9DKJB5jxl

— John Breech (@johnbreech) October 29, 2017

A quad injury ended his 2019 season as he was placed on injured reserve in October, but the Chargers seemed to be moving away from him for a couple of seasons. He just never brought the Chargers the same dynamic level of play he showed glimpses of in Cleveland.

As such, Benjamin’s career with the Chargers has quietly come to an end. Now, at 30 years old, he will have to prove that there is still a place for him in the league.