In the early days of the offseason, the Los Angeles Chargers made it clear that cutting costs was a priority.
A few days before free agency began, the team cut ties with oft-injured edge rusher Joey Bosa, thus saving $25.36 million in cap space. The Chargers also made the questionable decision not to re-sign defensive tackle Poona Ford, who earned an 85.1 overall PFF grade last season, ranking fifth among all interior defensive linemen. Ford ultimately remained in LaLa Land but not with the Bolts, signing a three-year, $27.6 million deal with the Rams, a number which could have easily been matched.
Given these cost-cutting measures, there was plenty of speculation that the Chargers might also part ways with offensive lineman Trey Pipkins, especially after Mekhi Becton was brought in to replace him as the team's starting right guard.
Looks like the Bolts keeping Trey Pipkins was the correct choice all along.
With Bosa out of the picture, Pipkins has the fourth-highest cap on the Los Angeles roster this season at $9.25 million, trailing only Justin Herbert ($37,345,675), Derwin James ($23,856,494), and Khalil Mack ($18,000,000). That's a lot of cheddar for a non-starter, hence the speculation that he could be released.
But that obviously never came to fruition, as the decision was made to keep him, with Jim Harbaugh planning to move the 2019 third-round pick back to his original position at tackle to serve as a swing option behind second-year stud Joe Alt and two-time Pro Bowler Rashawn Slater. Again, it's a little weird for the fourth-highest-paid player on the team to be a swing anything, but that was the call that was made.
And as we all know now, it turned out to be the correct call, as Pipkins found himself thrust back into the starting lineup after Slater suffered a torn patellar tendon in his left knee during practice on August 7, thus ending his season. So, for now, it's Pipkins to the rescue.
As a result of Slater's injury, Alt was moved to left tackle to protect Herbert's blind side, while Pipkins, who turns 29 on Friday, the day the Chargers meet the Kansas City Chiefs in Brazil, will take over at right tackle. As mentioned, Becton will start at right guard. And after the weird experiment Harbaugh attempted with Bradley Bozeman and Zion Johnson switching spots at an end, both are back where they started, with Bozeman at center and Johnson at left guard.
While Slater's injury is certainly unfortunate, Pipkins will undoubtedly be looking to make the most of the opportunity he's been given, as he has no contract beyond this season. Now, we just have to wait and see how all of this plays out.