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The San Diego Chargers didn’t just want to replace Danny Woodhead with another small-ish Running Back that could catch passes and make guys miss, they needed to.
Unfortunately for them, there’s not a lot of those guys available two weeks into the NFL season.
Fortunately for them, one of the guys available is someone that Offensive Coordinator Ken Whisenhunt knows very well.
To help replace Danny Woodhead, Chargers plan to sign former Titans and Chiefs RB Dexter McCluster, per source. https://t.co/zihxSgd4zt
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 20, 2016
Dexter McCluster was favorite to sign with Chargers post-Woodhead injury. Indeed, that is in works, source confirms. He's in San Diego now.
— Michael Gehlken (@sdutGehlken) September 20, 2016
Whisenhunt signed McCluster in his first offseason as the Head Coach of the Tennessee Titans and got good usage out of him for two seasons. Here’s what he did as the team’s 3rd down RB last year:
55 rushes, 247 yds (4.5 YPA), 1 TD
31 catches (41 targets), 260 yards (8.4 YPC), 1 TD
9.0 yards per punt return, 21.9 yards per kick return
I remember watching Dexter McCluster with the Kansas City Chiefs and wondering when the Chargers would find a playmaker like that to insert into the offense. Specifically in 2011, when McCluster played all 16 games and totaled over 800 yards from scrimmage.
McCluster has always been a formidable return man on kicks and punts, which is helpful in his signing with the Chargers, but his main job will be to fill the hole left by Woodhead in the San Diego offense.