In the absence of an injured Trey Pipkins (hip), Jamaree Salyer got the start at RG vs. the Patriots. The Chargers’ offensive line as a whole dominated a New England front that has gone through a tough season. Salyer and Sam Mustipher split time on the right side of the line for the first half before it was primarily Salyer’s opportunity to close the game in the second.
On a combined 52 pass blocking snaps, the Chargers’ players at right guard allowed two pressures. This includes Foster Sarell, who stepped in at right guard briefly once the team pulled starters.
On Monday, Harbaugh called Salyer’s start “very solid”. He was also positive on Mustipher’s ability to rotate into the picture, saying he played “really well”.
The quote that perhaps was most significant though was Harbaugh’s refusal to name a starter at RG going forward. When asked if a healthy Trey Pipkins will remain starter or if it’ll be Salyer, Harbaugh said, “I like them both.”
At practice on Wednesday, Salyer reportedly got starter reps at RG even with Pipkins back from his hip injury.
This is not the first time this season that the RG spot has been unsolidified going into a gameday. Prior to the Bengals game, OC Greg Roman noted that both Salyer and Pipkins had played at a “winning level” when asked if there was a competition. Pipkins would go on to start that game while Salyer played four snaps.
That period of the season started a shift for the Chargers in which Pipkins would start, but Salyer came in for select situational packages. Prior to his start vs. New England, the Georgia product played five snaps vs. Denver. A lot of the work has come in short yardage situations.
Harbaugh and the coaching staff also seem intent on letting the rotation at RG continue, regardless of who starts. “Trey’s played really well, Jamaree’s played really well,” Harbaugh said. “It’s great to have that many offensive linemen that have played well and have been healthy the entire season. You have 10 on the roster right now in the 53, that’s pretty good. That’s awesome. Good problems to have.”
As the Chargers are still intent on playing starters without yet knowing the result of the Steelers game vs. Cincinnati, we’ll see who gets the bulk of the work at RG in Week 18 at Las Vegas.