Several training camp standouts capture the imagination of an entire fan base every year. LA Chargers fans are currently in this phase, with several players standing out before the team ever takes the field.
Last year, one of the Chargers' biggest training camp standouts didn't quite work out for the team. Veteran wide receiver DJ Chark Jr. turned in a fantastic camp and appeared well on his way to becoming an impactful weapon as the Chargers' main X receiver.
Unfortunately, injuries postponed Chark's debut and by the time he was healthy, it was too little too late. After going unsigned in free agency for months, Chark finally has another chance to establish himself as a trusted weapon in the passing game after signing a one-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons.
DJ Chark joins a collection of random former Chargers on the Falcons
There are former members of the Chargers scattered throughout the league. That is inevitable in a sport where there are 53 players on the roster and there is so much turnover year-over-year.
However, it is quite remarkable how many former Chargers are currently on the Falcons. Moreover, the assortment of former Chargers on the Falcons is as random as it is dense. While there are some successful former Chargers, that is not the case for all.
Morgan Fox is the one truly successful former Charger on the Falcons. Fox was quietly one of the most underrated interior pass rushers in the league during his tenure with the Chargers. Now, he brings that same impact to the Falcons' defense.
Some are former preseason standouts who never really amounted to anything with the Bolts. Elijah Dotson fits that billing. Chargers fans were convinced Dotson would be a contributor in the team's running back rotation in 2023. He carried the ball four times for six yards.
The most polarizing former Chargers who are now in Atlanta are Storm Norton and Easton Stick. Los Angeles started Norton out of necessity and he was one of the worst offensive linemen in recent team history. He isn't a starter for Atlanta, which is good for the Falcons.
Stick was pretty much a non-factor for years as a third-string quarterback. That changed in 2023 and 2024. Stick got an extended run at starting with Justin Herbert injured in 2023 and it was a disaster. It somehow got even worse in 2024, forcing the Chargers to trade draft capital for a better backup quarterback.
The Falcons truly do have a weird group of former Chargers on the roster. Chark is the perfect addition to that mix.