Every former Charger on the Chargers schedule in 2022
By Jason Reed
Believe it or not, 12 out of the 14 opponents that the LA Chargers are scheduled to play in 2022 have a former Charger currently on the roster. This means that out of the 17 games the team will play, 15 will be a revenge game of some sorts for a player on the other team.
Some of these players are big-name players that will have a prominent role with their respective team. Others are merely depth pieces and will look to capitalize against the Chargers in the chances they do get.
The only two teams that do not currently have a former Charger on the roster is the Tennessee Titans, who the Bolts host in Week 15, and the LA Rams, who the Bolts host in Week 17.
Here is every former Chargers player that the Bolts will face in 2022:
Las Vegas Raiders (Week 1 and 13): Tyron Johnson, Denzel Perryman, Kyler Fackrell, Roderick Teamer
The Raiders did get rid of some of the former Chargers that they had on the roster, including defensive coordinator Gus Bradley. However, Vegas also brought in a new former Charger as the team signed Kyler Fackrell to a one-year deal this offseason.
The biggest of these players is obviously Perryman, who had a fantastic season for the Raiders in 2021 en route to earning the first Pro Bowl nod of his career.
Kansas City Chiefs (Week 2 and Week 11): Cortez Broughton
The Chiefs barely make this list as their only former-Charger is Cortez Broughton, who was a depth defensive lineman for the Chargers and will be for the Chiefs as well, assuming he makes the 53-man roster this season.
Jacksonville Jaguars (Week 3): Rayshawn Jenkins
Rayshawn Jenkins had a really good 2020 season in absence of Derwin James and it earned him quite the payday from the Jacksonville Jaguars, who have never been the best at spending their money.
Jenkins was fine for the Jaguars last season but he definitely was not worth the contract that the team gave him.
Houston Texans (Week 4): Scott Quessenberry and Desmond King
Scott Quessenberry left this offseason and he will have the same role in Houston that he did in LA as a backup center. He does join his brother in Houston, making it a feel-good story. The Texans also boast Desmond King, who the Chargers traded for a sixth-round pick in 2020. King recorded a second-high 10 tackles against the Chargers last season.
Cleveland Browns (Week 5): Isaac Rochell
This is another example of a depth defensive lineman that simply finds himself as a depth piece on a new team.
Denver Broncos (Week 6 and Week 17): Melvin Gordon
Melvin Gordon went a long time this offseason without going signed but eventually agreed to return to the Denver Broncos, further proving that his decision to turn down a multi-year deal worth $10 million a year was a massive mistake.
Gordon netted just a one-year, $2.5 million contract to return to the Broncos for the 2022 season.
Seattle Seahawks (Week 7): Uchenna Nwosu and Geno Smith
Geno Smith was a backup for one season with the Chargers so the more notable player here is obviously Uchenna Nwosu, who left the team this offseason after the Bolts traded for Khalil Mack.
Nwosu really came on in the second half of the 2021 season and Chargers fans should be rooting for him to succeed next season, just not against the Chargers.
Atlanta Falcons (Week 9): Younghoe Koo and Casey Hayward Jr.
Younghoe Koo turned into one of the league's best kickers when he left the LA Chargers and signed with the Atlanta Falcons. This was yet another special teams mistake made by the Chargers during Anthony Lynn's tenure.
Joining the Falcons this offseason is Casey Hayward Jr, who had a great season with the Raiders in 2021 after being quite bad in 2020 with the Chargers. It will be interesting to see what version of Hayward the Falcons get.
San Francisco 49ers (Jason Verrett):
Jason Verrett suffered yet another injury last season but the 49ers still are not giving up on him. The team just recently re-signed him to a one-year deal for the 2022 season.
Arizona Cardinals (Week 12): Stephen Anderson, Nick Vigil
Stephen Anderson was a valuable member of the Chargers tight end room that showed a lot of potential if given a bigger role. He likely will not get that bigger role in Arizona and will be more of the same on special teams and in his chances on offense. Arizona also has Nick Vigil, who spent one season with the Bolts in 2020.
Miami Dolphins (Week 14): Melvin Ingram
The Dolphins just recently signed Melvin Ingram to a one-year, $5 million contract to make this list. Ingram will give the Dolphins another pass-rushing presence and if last season taught us anything it is that he still has something in the gas tank.
Indianapolis Colts (Week 16): Brandon Facyson
Man, Gus Bradley must really love Brandon Facyson. Facyson followed Bradley to the Las Vegas Raiders last season and once against followed Bradley after he was hired by the Indianapolis Colts to be the defensive coordinator.
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Justin Herbert has had a lot of success playing Bradley and this game could be no different, especially if Facyson is playing big snaps.