The Los Angeles Chargers are bringing wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling onto the active roster from the practice squad, a move announced by Head Coach Jim Harbaugh himself on Wednesday. This isn’t just a routine roster shuffle; it comes right on the heels of the team signing Valdes-Scantling last week, showing how quickly things can change in the NFL when injuries hit.
From Cowboys Camp to Chargers Active Roster: MVS’s Whirlwind Tour
Valdes-Scantling’s journey to this Chargers spot has been a trip. He was with the Cowboys during training camp but got released in August during their final cuts. Now, just weeks later, he’s back on an active roster ready to contribute. Last season, playing for the Steelers, he managed 10 catches for 80 yards and a touchdown across five games. He’s a veteran wideout, too, having played for the 49ers, Saints, Bills, Chiefs, and Packers before landing in Los Angeles. That kind of experience on so many different teams can be invaluable, especially when a coach needs a guy to step in right away.
Tight End Room Troubles For Harbaugh
This quick promotion for Valdes-Scantling isn’t happening in a vacuum. The Chargers are dealing with some serious blows at tight end. Harbaugh confirmed that David Njoku is heading to injured reserve with a fibula injury. That’s a huge loss for their passing game. While it was initially thought Charlie Kolar would join him on IR, Harbaugh says that’s not the case. Kolar just had forearm surgery on Monday, though, so he’s definitely not 100%. The team needs bodies, especially reliable pass-catchers, and MVS is clearly seen as a ready-made option to help fill that void.
What this all means is Harbaugh is moving fast to adjust his offense. Bringing in a player like Valdes-Scantling, who’s been around the block, speaks to an immediate need for depth and experience. It’ll be interesting to see how Valdes-Scantling gets integrated into the offense and how much impact he can make for the Chargers as they push through the early part of the season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
Leave a Reply