LA Chargers: Rookie report card heading into bye week

Joe Reed: C — LA Chargers: F

2020 stats: 1 rush, 8 yards, 6 kick returns, 25.7 yards per return

I give Joe Reed a C despite him not being on the active roster the last two weeks and I give the LA Chargers an F for not having Joe Reed on the active roster the last two weeks.

I will admit, when it was announced that Reed would not be on the active roster before Week 4 I may have tweeted something about Tyron Johnson that deserves to be on freezing cold takes. Hand up, thats on me. Johnson has made an impact on the team over the last two weeks.

Can’t wait for Tyron Johnson to get zero targets today after activating him over Joe Reed!!!

— Bolt Beat (@BB_Chargers) October 4, 2020

However, it is still mind-boggling that the Chargers do not have the guy that they just drafted in the fifth round on the active roster. Yes, I understand that he has not progressed as expected as a weapon in the offense, but was he ever supposed to be this conventional weapon?

Heading into the season the entire narrative around Reed was his kick return ability and how the Chargers could get creative and use him in gadget plays. Are they expecting too much?

Reed’s 45-yard kick return in Week 1 led to the Chargers’ only touchdown of the game. He has his handprint all over the team’s only win of the season. Reed is ninth in yards per kick return this season. He has been solid in that department.

So yes, Tyron Johnson instantly made me eat crow, but it is still frustrating seeing Jason Moore get a roster spot over Reed in Week 4 or Malik Jefferson getting that roster spot in Week 5 when he played a grand total of 12 special teams snaps.