The LA Chargers have suffered the worst injury luck in the entire league this season. On top of losing star player after star player, the team's depth has also been seriously tested. Not to mention that Justin Herbert has been dealing with fractured rib cartilage that is just now seeming to clear up.
In the midst of all these injuries, fans have petitioned for the Chargers to add help in a variety of ways. It seemed like the team was in a perfect position to make a trade at the deadline to add depth to the roster but that never happened.
Then, despite there being solid options on the free-agent market, the team didn't sign any notable players to address the sudden lack of depth at defensive tackle. Instead, they brought in a practice squad player in Tyeler Davison.
Meanwhile, Chargers fans have had to watch the 8-1 Philadelphia Eagles (who have been thriving offensively under former Chargers' OC Shane Steichen) make all the moves that they were hoping the Bolts would make. Another example of this trend happened Thursday, as the Eagles signed veteran nose tackle Ndamukong Suh.
The rich get richer. The #Eagles are signing free agent DT Ndamukong Suh to a 1-year, sources say, beefing up their defensive front with a top free agent. They want to keep the DL a strength. The deal has been agreed to and is done. pic.twitter.com/0Egc4V8Hiu
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 17, 2022
Ndamukong Suh is the third player on the Eagles' defense that should be on the Chargers.
The three players on the Eagles' defense that should be on the Chargers instead are not the reason why the team is 8-1 but the philosophy that caused the team to bring them in is why they are 8-1. The Eagles know that they have a window to contend and are making smart, savvy moves to maximize that.
Suh is the second defensive line signing that the Eagles have made this week. He joins former Charger Linval Joseph, who was another name tossed around by fans as an option for the team to sign to replace the team's injury losses.
Brandon Staley explained in Wednesday's press conference that they wanted someone who was ready to jump in and play a certain number of snaps right away and that is likely why they went with Davison. That explains why they didn't bring in Joseph or Suh, who have not played or practiced this year.
Suh and Joseph are joining another former Charger in Kyzir White, who the team never should have let walk away in the offseason. White had a breakout season for the Bolts last year and all he could muster was a non-guaranteed $3 million contract from the Eagles.
Spoiler alert: White has continued to play at a high level and would make a huge difference if he was in the linebacker rotation for the Bolts. The Chargers could have afforded to bring him back at that cost and it was not a situation where they were priced out.
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Howie Roseman and the Eagles have executed some of the best roster-building techniques in the sport and the same simply cannot be said for Tom Telesco and the Chargers.