Chargers cut down to 80 players ahead of training camp

On Saturday afternoon, the LA Chargers announced six cuts to the roster, bringing their total players down to the necessary 80 prior to training camp. On the offensive side of the ball, the cuts were offensive tackle Koda Martin, wide receiver Andre Patton, and tight ends Jared Rice and Andrew Vollert. Defensively, safety Roderic Teamer — who was suspended the first four games of the season — and defensive tackle P.J. Johnson were among the first players who won’t be making the opening roster.

Patton was seventh on the team in catches (6) last season while finishing eighth in receiving yards (56). He was going into his fourth year with the Chargers after being signed as an undrafted free agent out of Rutgers.

Martin spent the majority of last season on the IR after signing with the team as a UDFA.

Vollert, after impressing in limited snaps during last year’s preseason, tore his ACL on his lone catch of the exhibition season. He was expected to be in the running for the team’s third tight end this season.

Rice is the lone UDFA from this year’s group to be cut. He left Fresno State with a plethora of receiving records for the Bulldog program.

Johnson was a seventh-round pick of the Detroit Lions in 2019 and finished last season on the Chargers’ practice squad. He was planning to fight for one of the last spots on the roster for an interior defender.

Finally, after Teamer started a handful of of games at strong safety in place of Derwin James and Adrian Phillips last season, he finds himself off the team following a four-game suspension stemming from a violation of the league’s substance abuse policy.

I’m glad to see the Chargers leaned towards keeping most of their latest batch of undrafted free agents, especially in this pandemic where a lot of player’s first chances at making a team are likely to be crushed in the near future. Of course I’d expect nothing less from a team who understand the potential value to be found within the UDFA pool.