After three years as a struggling guard, the LA Chargers are experimenting with Zion Johnson at center. The results in camp have been mixed, prompting Johnson to get snaps with the second-team offense shortly before Thursday's Hall off Fame Game against the Detroit Lions.
However, Johnson did get the starting nod against the Lions as the Chargers understandably are in data collection mode. Jim Harbaugh needs to see how Johnson looks at game speed, hence why he got the start against the Lions.
To say that Johnson's start went poorly would be an understatement. In his first-ever game action at center (and that's counting college too, not just the NFL) he looked exactly like someone who has never played center before. The Chargers botched back-to-back snaps on the first drive and Johnson's blocking left more to be desired.
Zion Johnson continues tumbling down Chargers depth chart thanks to Hall of Fame Game
It doesn't matter what else Johnson did the rest of the game against the Lions. Coming out and botching two snaps on back-to-back plays will be his story of the game. It will be all the coaching staff and fanbase remember.
And rightfully so. It's one thing for a veteran center to botch a play or two in a preseason game while they are knocking off the cobwebs. Johnson has not built up that same equity. Every needless mistake he makes is a knock against him.
It's unclear what the Chargers will do with Johnson if he isn't the starting center. One would assume he would start at left guard, which is where he started last season. However, Jamaree Salyer has gotten reps with the first team at left guard and has been lauded by his coaching staff.
That leaves Johnson in a weird spot: a first-round pick whose fifth-year option was just declined who isn't a starter. Would he fully buy into this role? Would the Chargers have to cut ties completely to avoid it being a distraction in the locker room?
These are all hypothetical questions and we actually have to get to that point before the Chargers need to answer them. However, after Johnson's struggles in the Hall of Fame Game, these hypotheticals are now on the table.
The Chargers have every right to experiment with Johnson and should continue doing so while the games don't matter. But after this showing, Johnson has an even bigger hole to dig out of.