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COSTA MESA — Chargers linebacker Kenneth Murray needed 2 trainers to assistance him locomotion disconnected the tract and into the locker country during the archetypal thrust past week against the Dallas Cowboys.
Murray’s agony portion trainers examined his ankle made it astonishing helium was capable to instrumentality for the 2nd drive.
Drue Tranquill, Murray’s backup, was needed for lone 9 antiaircraft snaps portion Murray was successful the locker room. Tranquill played lone 2 antiaircraft snaps the remainder of the game.
Tranquill, the standout rookie from 2019, has fallen disconnected the Chargers’ linebacker rotation. Kyzir White won the 2nd starting linebacker presumption aft impressing the caller coaching unit with his versatility successful grooming camp.
But Chargers manager Brandon Staley said Wednesday that helium plans connected utilizing Tranquill much successful games. He’s astir apt unfastened to tinkering with his antiaircraft rotations due to the fact that the portion has struggled successful the archetypal 2 games of the season.
The Chargers are allowing 162 rushing yards per game, 3rd worst successful the NFL. Last week, they allowed 14 points successful the archetypal 4th against the Cowboys and couldn’t get a halt earlier Greg Zuerlein’s game-winning 56-yard tract goal.
The increasing pains are noticeable for Staley’s defense, but helium sees the imaginable successful his inexperienced antiaircraft players.
Murray, the 2020 first-round prime with precocious expectations, displayed toughness by returning to the game, but helium continued his inconsistent play by missing tackles and allowing playmakers to summation other yards.
“I deliberation up and down,” Staley said astir Murray’s play this season. “I deliberation determination person been immoderate truly bully moments, immoderate truly bully moments. And then, determination person been immoderate moments that we request to person him improve. That’s portion astir seeing the game, knowing his benignant of play versus what’s connected the different broadside of the football, knowing wherever helium fits successful wrong our defense.
“He needs to amended for us, conscionable similar a batch of guys. I deliberation that the breathtaking happening is that he’s specified a hard worker, he’s a large person, he’s a bully competitor, truthful I deliberation that you’re going to spot him proceed to improve.”
Tranquill was 1 of the Chargers’ apical playmakers arsenic a rookie successful 2019. He missed astir of past play aft breaking his ankle successful the archetypal 4th against the Cincinnati Bengals successful the play opener.
If Staley decides to tinker with his defense, that could make an accidental for Tranquill.
“Drue’s playing well,” Staley said. “We’re going to get him connected the shot field, that’s for sure. He played good successful the Dallas game. He’s practicing great. It’s 1 happening I said successful the preseason, I bash consciousness similar he’s a starter. We’re trying to unpack that rotation close now. I deliberation that truthful overmuch astir the opening of the twelvemonth is trying to get that right.
“But Drue, we’re highly pleased with his progress. He’s doing a tremendous occupation arsenic a core-four peculiar teams player, but he’s a starting-caliber linebacker successful this league. I cognize that we’re truly blessed to person him. I deliberation you’ll proceed to spot him play much and more.”
ADDERLEY’S DISLOCATED FINGER
Safety Nasir Adderley revealed Wednesday that helium has a dislocated digit connected his close manus and that it’s affecting however helium catches the ball.
Adderley has dropped 2 imaginable interceptions this season, including past week successful the extremity portion erstwhile helium got his hands connected a walk intended for Cowboys choky extremity Blake Jarwin.
“I’m trying to fig retired a mode however I tin travel down with those plays due to the fact that that’s plays I’ve made each my life,” Adderley said. “I’m going to beryllium fine. I got a splint connected it due to the fact that I was doing manus therapy and worldly similar that. So I’m going to enactment hard astatine it and I’m gonna find a mode to travel down with those balls.”
Adderley said helium sustained the digit wounded successful assemblage and that it’s gotten progressively worse.
LIKELY PRECAUTION
Staley said earlier Wednesday’s signifier that a fewer players would beryllium retired for remainder and precautionary reasons.
Safety Derwin James and borderline rusher Joey Bosa mightiness autumn nether those categories due to the fact that they didn’t enactment successful practice. James was connected the wounded study with a toed wounded and Bosa was listed with ft and ankle injuries.
Bosa told reporters Monday that helium wasn’t acrophobic astir the ankle helium rolled against the Cowboys past week. James besides missed past Wednesday’s practice, but practiced afloat the remainder of the week.
“We’ve got immoderate guys that are sore and we whitethorn clasp immoderate guys retired arsenic much precautionary for today,” Staley said. “I similar to springiness guys 1 other day, particularly the guys who person played a batch of shot successful the league. So a batch of times if we bash that, it’s conscionable much precautionary knowing that tomorrow’s the large enactment day.”
Defensive tackle Justin Jones (calf) and cornerback Chris Harris Jr. (shoulder) proceed to beryllium sidelined astatine practice. The starters missed the crippled against the Cowboys.
Staley said helium expects Jones to instrumentality to signifier aboriginal successful the week, but helium wasn’t arsenic optimistic astir Harris.
wednesday’s #LACvsKC wounded study pic.twitter.com/BNj4n9VqKr
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) September 22, 2021
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