There are still eight games left on the schedule, but Jim Harbaugh is already worried about losing defensive coordinator Jesse Minter to the head coaching carousel. Minter has done wonders with the LA Chargers defense and will be a name to watch come January.
In the meantime, Harbaugh and Minter are preparing for the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday Night Football. It's a brilliant night cap to a mouthwatering slate of games featuring two of the NFL's premier quarterbacks in Justin Herbert and Joe Burrow.
Burrow would be in the MVP conversation if not for the Bengals' 4-6 record. It's exactly why QB wins are not a reliable stat, but that's a topic for another day. Burrow has played out of his mind all year and is coming off perhaps his best game of the season in a losing effort against the Ravens.
The Chargers will need all hands on deck to combat Cincinnati's aerial assault. Wouldn't you know, it's looking increasingly likely that they'll get a key piece of their secondary back for SNF.
Chargers cornerback Kristian Fulton confident about playing Week 11 vs. the Bengals
After missing the last two games with a hamstring injury, Kristian Fulton practiced in a limited capacity Wednesday and Thursday. He's trending in the direction of playing Sunday night and told reporters that he feels 100% recovered from the injury.
Kristian Fulton on if he’s expecting to play Sunday vs. Bengals: “Yes sir.”
— Daniel Popper (@danielrpopper) November 13, 2024
The Chargers defense has been flying, but Fulton's return will be a welcome sight. A largely pedestrian player during his four years with the Titans, Fulton is the midst of a career year in Los Angeles after signing a one-year, $3.25 million deal in free agency.
Among 88 cornerbacks who have played at least 185 coverage snaps, Fulton's 79.1 coverage grade ranks sixth, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). His 68.6 passer rating allowed when targeted is 11th-best and he ranks sixth at the position in yards allowed per coverage snap.
READ MORE: Top rankings mean Chargers defense will likely determine their playoff fate
Simply put, Fulton is having a renaissance campaign under Harbaugh and Minter. His return looms large with Ja'Marr Chase coming to town.
If the season ended today, Chase would win the receiving Triple Crown. He leads the league in catches, receiving yards and touchdowns. He went nuclear last week against the Ravens with 11 catches for 264 yards and three touchdowns.
The Chargers' defense is obviously markedly better than Baltimore's, but Chase could get sidekick Tee Higgins back this week.
A two-time 1,000-yard receiver, Higgins has missed the last three games with a quad injury. He practiced in a limited capacity Wednesday and Thursday, so he seems to be on the path to returning this week.
The Chargers have not played an offense as good as the Bengals this season. It's a great litmus test for Harbaugh and Minter, so Fulton's return could not come at a better time.