The preseason is the perfect time for fans to latch onto players they otherwise never would have known about. LA Chargers linebacker Marlowe Wax is the prime example of that, as he went from an unknown UDFA signing for the Bolts to someone fans want to see make the 53-man roster.
Wax first turned heads during training camp and that bled into his play in the regular season. With not much depth at the linebacker position and the need for special-teams contributors, Wax seemingly had a runway to make the roster in Week 1.
However, an obstacle was just thrown right in the middle of that runway and it comes via another player's improved health. Veteran linebacker Da'Shawn Hand was officially taken off the PUP list on Monday and returned to Chargers practice in a limited capacity. This is bad news for Wax's roster hopes.
Da'Shawn Hand's return from injury derails Marlowe Wax's roster hopes
The Chargers signed Hand this offseason to replace Nick Niemann, who signed a one-year deal with the Houston Texans. Hand, ironically, came from the Texans and arguably gives the Chargers more than Niemann, although at an older age.
Niemann and Hand are similar in that they are special-teams specialists. Both players have been great in that phase of the game and that is exactly why the Chargers brought Hand in. It wasn't to make much of a difference on defense, it was to make a difference on special teams.
The Chargers aren't going to throw Hand's multiple seasons of productive special teams play away for an undrafted free agent. If Hand is healthy and capable to play in Week 1 of the season he is going to make the active roster, plain and simple.
That leaves a new reality for Wax, one that includes him on the Chargers practice squad. If everything else holds, Wax is undoubtedly going to be waived by the Chargers on roster cut day. This opens the door for another team to claim him on waivers to include him on their 53-man roster.
Chargers fans shouldn't worry about that, though. As much potential as Wax has shown, every team in the league has UDFAs who have potential. Those who are not as close to the situation won't have the same opinion of Wax as Chargers fans. Thus, it's likely he would just end up on the Bolts' practice squad.
From there, the Chargers can keep Wax waiting at bay until an injury inevitably happens that impacts the special teams unit. Wax would theoretically be the first one up, or at the very least, be a gameday elevation as a member of the practice squad.
Just because Hand is back at Chargers practice does not mean it's the end of the line for Wax on the Chargers. However, it does change what his future looks like.