LA Chargers: Seven training camp battle predictions

WR/KR Joe Reed vs. WR/KR Darius Jennings

The LA Chargers have struggled to find that impact kick returner for quite a few years now. They’ve tried special team returns with Desmond King, Benjamin, Ekeler, J.J. Jones, and many others over the years.

This offseason, they signed Darius Jennings, well-known for his kick returns in Tennessee. Of course, they also drafted Joe Reed, who led all of college football in average kick return yards.

Ironically, both are former Virginia Cavaliers. Jennings’ highest reception total in his college career was 48. Reed broke that mark pretty easily by recording 77 receptions in 2019. Jennings has recorded 235 yards in his five year NFL career, so suffice to say, he isn’t really a receiving option.

Reed was a better kick returner in college and has shown more potential as a receiver than Jennings. He’s better at route running, has craftier footwork, and can beat corners over the top:

Virginia WR Joe Reed responds with a one-handed TD catch of his own pic.twitter.com/adva5utBRe

— Fed Scivittaro (@MeshPointScout) November 23, 2018

While the signing of Jennings was understandable at first, him being on the team is sort of redundant with the selection of Reed, who is younger with similar physical attributes. Perhaps the Chargers find a way to keep both on the final roster, but I’m just not seeing what Jennings does better than Reed.

Winner: Joe Reed