LA Chargers news: The LA Chargers took a stand on Thursday by canceling their scrimmage.
The LA Chargers were set to suit up for the first time at SoFi Stadium as part of an intrasquad blue versus white scrimmage on Thursday afternoon. Minutes after the scrimmage was supposed to begin, the Chargers announced that they would be canceling the scrimmage.
The Chargers joined other professional sports teams in various leagues in canceling an event in the aftermath of the Jacob Blake shooting in Kenosha, Wisconsin. This was not an ordinary practice, either, as it was set to be televised on NFL Network.
Instead of getting a scrimmage, fans tuning into NFL Network got a message from the Chargers. Quarterback Tyrod Taylor and defensive tackle Damion Square put on headsets and addressed those watching at home.
Head coach Anthony Lynn also spoke. The underlying narrative from the team? We need change and we need equality.
Tyrod Taylor: “We don’t have all the answers, and we can’t promise we’ll have all the answers tomorrow, but this locker room is going to continue to take the steps and the right approach to figure out how we can bring about change. It starts in our community.”
— Guilty As Charged Podcast (@GACPodcast17) August 27, 2020
The team was already showcasing social justice messaging in SoFi Stadium itself before the scrimmage was canceled.
The Oculus, which is the new, state of the art circular video board in SoFi Stadium, read the following “I’m not sad. I don’t want your pity. I want change.” This was a quote spoken by Jacob Blake’s sister, Letetra Wideman.
The team also had the names of police shooting victims displayed on LED boards that are wrapped around the stadium.
Ty Long and Justin Jackson also put the headsets on after Taylor and Square. Jackson stated that the team was not in the right mindset to practice today with everything going on and instead wanted to use the platform that they do have to spark change.
Ty Long had an equally as powerful quote.
Ty Long: “This world needs to see that we’re all the same. At the end of the day we all have a conscious. We all know what’s good and bad. It’s time for everyone to step up. We need more leaders and less followers. If we’re not making this place better, what are we doing?”
— Guilty As Charged Podcast (@GACPodcast17) August 27, 2020
As of now, the LA Chargers have not announced if the scrimmage will be rescheduled or televised in the future.