Will Dissly was effectively the LA Chargers' starting tight end last year. In addition to be the team's primary blocker, Dissly set career highs in receptions (50) and yards (481) in 2024.
2025 has been a different story. While Dissly has dealt with injuries this year, he now appears to be a healthy scratch on gamedays.
The last game he played in was the loss vs. Indianapolis. Dissly played three offensive snaps and four special teams snaps. He has not gotten back onto the field since having a drop on his only target in that game.
It feels like Will Dissly has been completely iced out by the Chargers coaching staff
In press conferences from previous weeks, head coach Jim Harbaugh had indicated that Dissly wasn't completely healthy.
But during the week of the Jacksonville game, his tone on the matter had shifted. Harbaugh confirmed that Dissly was indeed a healthy scratch vs. Pittsburgh in addition to S Tony Jefferson. Tucker Fisk was also acknowledged as the primary backup TE2 to Oronde Gadsden II by Harbaugh.
All in all, it's been a weird year for Dissly. He once entered the season as arguably the Chargers' best blocker and has now been iced out for Fisk, Scott Matlock, and Tyler Conklin. Conklin, for the most part, only receives work on Ryan Ficken's special teams unit unless there's an injury to one of Gadsden, Fisk, or Matlock.
Offensive coordinator Greg Roman was asked about why Dissly hasn't been playing on Wednesday:
"Right now, Will's a valuable player. I'd say Oronde (Gadsden) has assumed more of that role," Roman admitted. "Tyler Conklin has done some really good things as well. So, we got the two big guys (Tucker Fisk, Scott Matlock) that pretty much have their roles. I'd say that's where it's at right now. We have all the confidence in the world in Will."
The comments make the usage of tight ends and fullbacks against Jacksonville make less sense. The Chargers didn't use Tucker Fisk or Scott Matlock that often as blockers relative to the Steelers game. Conklin played zero snaps on offense against the Jags and was relegated to a special teams role (the special teams snaps have also not been great).
The Chargers are also producing in the 2 TE + FB set in the passing game this season with 0.44 EPA/play. That's something Dissly could excel at with the value he can provide on screens and seam ball inviting routes relative to Fisk, Matlock or Conklin.
But even if Dissly isn't part of the plan going forward, the Chargers still have to lean into heavier packages to avoid what happened in the Jacksonville game.
Hopefully, there's more consistent usage of the tight ends that helps in the passing game, running game, and protecting Herbert. Roman and the coaching staff need to lean into the special sauce that worked with some of the heavier sets against Pittsburgh. That starts with controlling the game script from the jump and not falling behind by multiple scores.