The LA Chargers' defense has thrived this season but was put to the test in Week 15 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tampa Bay gave the Chargers a reality check with 500 yards of offense and 40 points on the scoreboard.
Every defense has a bad day and it is imperative the Chargers do not allow this to become a trend. Unfortunately for the Bolts, the team is dealing with significant injuries that may increase the likelihood of this becoming a trend moving forward.
Standout rookie cornerback Cam Hart suffered his second concussion in a month on Sunday against the Buccaneers and will likely be out for the foreseeable future. The defense simply has not been the same without Hart, who provides valuable depth on the outside.
The Chargers may not be able to replace Hart internally but the team can look at external options for help. Outside help is hard to find at this point in the season but the San Francisco 49ers just gave the Chargers an intriguing option to potentially pursue to reunite with Jim Harbaugh.
49ers have waived cornerback Ambry Thomas off the injured reserve list. Thomas is now healthy and, as a former third-round pick out of Michigan, is expected to garner interest.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 17, 2024
A Michigan reunion with Ambry Thomas makes perfect sense for the Chargers
San Francisco drafted Ambry Thomas in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft after he put together a great collegiate career at Michigan with Harbaugh as the program's head coach. Thomas' blend of speed (sub-4.40 40-yard-dash) and length (six-foot with 32.25 inch arms) made him an intriguing draft prospect coming out of Michigan.
Thomas hasn't really lived up to expectations thus far in his career as he has merely been a rotational defensive back for the 49ers in his three seasons. While Thomas wasn't among the best cornerbacks in the league, he put together a serviceable season that solidified him as a league-average defender at worst in 2023
The former Wolverine played 49% of the 49ers' defensive snaps in 2023, primarily at outside corner. Thomas played 528 snaps outside while playing just nine snaps in the slot and 31 snaps in the box.
However, while he may not bounce around the secondary in various alignments, Thomas does provide more value than just being an outside corner. Thomas carved out a role for being a solid special teams player for the 49ers, which is always an added bonus when adding someone this late in the season.
The Chargers have cycled through other cornerbacks late in the year (Eli Apple being the latest example) so it makes sense to take a shot on someone Harbaugh coached. If all goes well, Thomas would give the Chargers a third cornerback alongside Tarheeb Still and Kristian Fulton to play outside.
This does not solve the problem of Taylor playing poorly in the slot, but it at least gives the Chargers some flexibility in what they do moving forward.
If Hart is missing time like many expect then the Chargers should be open to this reunion between Ambry Thomas and Jim Harbaugh.