A lot of attention has been placed on the Chargers‘ injury woes this season. Now however, they are set to receive receive some reinforcement on the defensive side of the ball.
What with the news of offensive players such as Omarion Hampton returning, it’s nice to see that the Chargers are getting a defensive player back soon as well. While Otito Ogbonnia is considered a more rotational defender, he can give key players along the interior of the D-line much needed rest. His return would take off the pressure on guys like Te’air Tart, Da,Shawn Hand, and Jamaree Caldwell.
The Impact of Ogbonnia’s Return in the Rotation
Also, when Ogbonnia is on the field, he is no slouch. In 66 snaps, he has had a couple of pressures, a couple of hurries, and a run stop this season. Once he went down with an elbow injury in Week 7 however, the Chargers front did start to shore up. In the four games he played in, the Chargers gave up 6.54 yards per play, compared to 4.92 yards. It’s one thing to be a nice rotational piece. It is quite another when your presence affects the team negatively despite your individual achievements. The rotational aspect is important, but Ogbonnia must prove he can be stable within the structure of the team before there can be any excitement about his return.
Timing His Activation With a Crucial Stretch Ahead
It’s important to note that Ogbonnia’s 21 day activation window is effective as of today, as it sets a timeline for his potential return. While some may say Ogbonnia could provide an immediate boost, some may err on the side of caution. The Chargers are in the midst of a playoff race, and every snap will be important the rest of the way for them. Ogbonnia can certainly help aid the playoff push, but looking at the schedule, there may be no need to rush him back right away. They have a winnable game against the Raiders this week before a tough test at home against the defending champion Eagles. After that, they get the Chiefs on the road in a game that could decide their playoff fate. In that span, Ogbonnia would have officially fulfilled his activation window and would be ready to go. If the Chargers play their cards right, they can bring back Ogbonnia to play in that game against the Chiefs and split their next two games. While a win agains the Eagles would be nice, beating the Chiefs would give them a potential5-0 record in the West and an insurmountable tiebreaker advantage. Plus, the Chargers may prefer to focus on getting back offensive reinforcements before looking at the defense. This is great news for the Chargers in terms of the short-term future, but they may want to think longer term when it comes to Ogbonnia. All that matters now is getting enough positive results so that his return is important for the team’s playoff chances.
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