UPDATE: The Los Angeles Chargers will be without linebacker Denzel Perryman for the crucial upcoming games after his appeal against a two-game suspension was just denied by the NFL. This means Perryman will miss matchups against the Houston Texans on December 30 at SoFi Stadium and again on either January 3 or 4 against the Denver Broncos at Mile High Stadium.
The league imposed the suspension due to Perryman’s “repeated violations of playing rules” aimed at protecting player safety, specifically citing a helmet-to-helmet hit on the Cowboys’ Ryan Flournoy during last Sunday’s game. While Perryman was penalized for unnecessary roughness, he avoided ejection during the Chargers’ 34-17 victory.
Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter expressed confidence in Troy Dye, who is expected to step into Perryman’s position. Minter stated, “We’ve won a lot of games the last couple of years in key sequences when Troy’s been our linebacker.” Dye has been a solid contributor and currently stands as the Chargers’ third-leading tackler with 50 tackles.
In addition to Dye, Del’Shawn Phillips may also see increased playing time, particularly given his significant role on special teams, where he leads the team with 23 tackles. Minter noted, “I’m excited for him to maybe get an opportunity to get in there,” emphasizing the depth and readiness of the team.
As the Chargers prepare for this pivotal stretch, they are adapting to the weather as well. Earlier today, the team conducted practice at SoFi Stadium to avoid the heavy rain forecasted from an incoming atmospheric river. Safety Derwin James Jr. remarked, “It felt good” to practice in the stadium where they will compete this Saturday.
Injury reports reveal some concerns, with wide receiver Derius Davis (ankle), safety RJ Mickens (shoulder), and offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer (hamstring) missing practice. Limited participants include guard Mekhi Becton (knee) and linebacker Bud Dupree (back).
As the Chargers gear up for these crucial games, all eyes will be on how they adapt in Perryman’s absence and the performance of Dye and Phillips. The urgency of this situation cannot be understated as the team aims for playoff contention.
Stay tuned as we follow the latest developments on the Chargers and their playoff push.
