Every former Chargers player the Bolts will face in 2023
By Jason Reed
The LA Chargers 2023 schedule has been released for quite some time and it is easy to be optimistic about the team's chances. Every schedule has its ups and downs but if the Bolts are as good as fans think they are then the team should be able to make the playoffs for the second year in a row.
That being said, the Chargers will square off against some true superstars in 2023. They face three of the most prolific quarterbacks in the sport in Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen and Aaron Rodgers. They also face defensive stars like Ahmad Gardner and Micah Parsons.
The Bolts will also square off against some familiar faces that at one point donned the powder blue. For those players, a game against the Chargers will carry that extra juice.
Every former Chargers player the Bolts play in 2023:
Week 1 vs Miami Dolphins: Dan Feeney
The Chargers kick the season off by playing a familiar face but he may not end up playing at all in the game. Dan Feeney never quite panned out for the Chargers and he now finds himself as a depth offensive lineman for the Miami Dolphins.
Week 3 at Minnesota Vikings: Troy Reeder
The Chargers and Vikings did a bit of a linebacker switch this offseason. Los Angeles signed Eric Kendricks after he was released from the Vikings only for Minnesota to bring in Troy Reeder. It is still unclear why the Bolts didn't bring Reeder back unless his goal was to sign with a team that will play him more, which is possible.
Week 4 and Week 15 vs/at Las Vegas Raiders: DeAndre Carter, Jerry Tillery, Brandon Facyson, Roderic Teamer
If there is one thing the Las Vegas Raiders love to do it is bring in players who previously played for the LA Chargers. As it stands right now, there is a quartet of former Chargers on the Raiders and that could grow by the time these two teams play.
Week 6 vs Dallas Cowboys: Tyron Johnson, Tristan Vizcaino
There is no guarantee that wide receiver Tyron Johnson or kicker Tristan Vizcaino is actually on the Cowboys still by the time Week 6 rolls around. It would probably help the Chargers if Vizcaino was Dallas' kicker as he struggled immensely in LA.
Week 7 and 18 at/vs Kansas City Chiefs: Drue Tranquill
This is the matchup that Chargers fans are waiting for not only because it is against the Chiefs but because it will be the team's first matchup against Drue Tranquill after he too left the team for cheap in free agency.
Week 8 vs Chicago Bears: Justin Jones
The story of this primetime game will be Brandon Staley and Khalil Mack's ties to the Chicago Bears but there is a former Charger to watch on Chicago's defensive line in Justin Jones.
Week 10 vs Detroit Lions: Christian Covington
Christian Covington's Chargers career ended with an injury as the team bolstered the defensive line in the offseason. Covington is fighting an uphill battle to make the roster and be available to play his former team in Week 10.
Week 13 at New England Patriots: Adrian Phillips, Hunter Henry
The Patriots have a big-name former Charger on both sides of the ball. Adrian Phillips is a player that unfortunately got away from the Chargers while Henry got a huge payday from the Patriots once his contract expired with the Bolts.
Week 16 vs Buffalo Bills: Cortez Broughton
Cortez Broughton was drafted in the seventh round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Chargers and played in a grand total of 11 games for the team. He has not seen NFL action since 2021, when he played three defensive snaps for the Kansas City Chiefs.