Former Chargers fan favorite gets cut by Cowboys despite thriving at camp

There are certain players in the history of the LA Chargers who did not have a huge statistical impact but still resonated with the fanbase for whatever reason. In recent years, the best example of this phenomenon is wide receiver Tyron Billy-Johnson.

Billy-Johnson burst onto the scene with the Chargers in 2020 as a legitimate deep-ball threat for Justin Herbert. While his overall numbers were modest, Billy-Johnson's ability to stretch the field and take advantage of the rocket strapped to Herbert's shoulder made him valuable.

Despite this, Billy-Johnson was unable to make the Chargers roster in 2021 and he has bounced around the league ever since. The former Charger found himself on the Dallas Cowboys during 2024 training camp and was putting together an excellent showing in camp that was turning heads.

Billy-Johnson's strong showing in camp did not end up helping him when it came to making the roster. The former Chargers fan favorite was one of the first reported cuts for the Cowboys.

Chargers fans call for a Tyron Billy-Johnson reunion after being cut by Cowboys

Now that Billy-Johnson is officially on the market there is a select number of Chargers fans on social media who are clamoring for him to return. After all, Billy-Johnson did embrace Herbert before Saturday's preseason game between the Cowboys and Chargers, so the relationship is there.

There are multiple problems with this desire, though, that these select Chargers fans likely do not want to admit.

The first is from a pure roster perspective on the Chargers' side. While the Chargers lack top-of-the-line receiver talent, the wide receiver room is rather deep. Los Angeles already has a tough decision to make between Simi Fehoko and Brenden Rice and may end up carrying seven wideouts. There is no room for Johnson.

The other, more painful, reality these fans need to realize is that Billy-Johnson is not as good as remembered. Yes, he was an electric deep-ball threat in 2020 and was fun to watch but that was also four years ago in a much different situation.

There is a reason why the Chargers cut Billy-Johnson after that season, and why he has not been able to stick with a team since. If Billy-Johnson was really this dynamic passing threat that he is built up to be then he wouldn't be available for the Chargers to bring back in. He would have a concrete spot on a roster somewhere.

Nostalgia can really do a trick on one's mind, as evident by the fact that four years later Billy-Johnson is still held to this high standard by various Chargers fans. Hopefully, he can rebound with another team, but it should not be with the Chargers.