EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Joey Bosa called it a “stacked room.” And for good reason. The Los Angeles Chargers’ edge rusher group is, top to bottom, perhaps the team’s deepest and most talented position.
When healthy, Bosa and Khalil Mack are among the fiercest pass-rushing tandems in the league. Tuli Tuipulotu was one of the best all-around rookie edge rushers in football last season. With those three returning, the Chargers made a strength even stronger in the offseason by signing veteran Bud Dupree. Mack, Bosa and Dupree have 221 1/2 career sacks between them.
“We’re pretty much playing out there with four starters,” Bosa said last week.
The forgotten man in the room? Chris Rumph II. A fourth-round pick in 2021, Rumph is entering the final year of his rookie deal. The Dupree signing in May raised some questions about where Rumph will fit into the roster — and, more specifically, if the Chargers would have a spot for a fifth edge rusher on the 53-man.
Rumph’s 2023 season ended in frustrating fashion when he fractured his foot in pregame warmups ahead of the Week 10 game against the Lions. That fracture required surgery. Rumph had also missed time in 2022 with a knee injury. And he was sidelined for organized team activities and minicamp this spring.
But Rumph was back for the start of training camp. And so far, he is answering questions with his play. Rumph has been one of the most consistent playmakers along the defensive front since pads came on earlier this week.
“I’ve been really excited about Chris since we came back,” defensive coordinator Jesse Minter said this week. “He’s a guy that in the offseason program was around and learning, and you could sense his attitude and energy. It’s so consistent at a high level every day. And now that he’s out there with pads on, man, that’s what I was hoping to see.”
Chargers Legend Chris Rumph clocked in#ChargersCamp pic.twitter.com/HFfx7Zkt69
— Chargers Country (@ChargersCountry) August 1, 2024
Rumph is making a strong case to make the 53-man as a fifth edge rusher. His play defensively, both as a pass rusher and run defender, is a big reason why. But he has also been a mainstay on coordinator Ryan Ficken’s special teams units, playing on both kickoffs and punts.
Mack, Bosa and Dupree will not be playing on special teams. Tuipulotu will. Typically, a team’s third and fourth edge rushers will have prominent roles on special teams. That will not be the case for the Chargers. But keeping Rumph as a fifth edge rusher would still provide them with two core special teams players from the position group. Rumph has played 651 special teams snaps in his career.
The flashes defensively are still an important piece in the evaluation, however. And Rumph took over practice during a three-play stretch with the second-team defense Friday. On first down, quarterback Max Duggan handed off to running back Jaret Patterson on a rush up the middle. Rumph crashed off the edge and stuffed Patterson for a 2-yard gain.
On second-and-8, Rumph created pressure off the offense’s left side and flushed Duggan from the pocket. On third down, Rumph beat right tackle Alex Leatherwood cleanly to the inside and got home for a sack.
This came one day after Rumph had one of the defensive plays of practice. During a live period Thursday, Rumph surged into the backfield off the edge and tackled running back Isaiah Spiller for a loss.
“He plays long,” Minter said of Rumph. “He uses his tools really well. I think he’s progressing the right way, and it’s great to have another guy.”
Dupree turned 31 in February. Last season was the first time he played more than 11 games since 2019. Bosa has played in just 14 games over the past two regular seasons because of several injuries. Mack turned 33 in February.
It would be smart to have some insurance for this position group, and Rumph could provide that.
“Stuff happens,” Minter said. “Stuff happened here in the past with guys. And so in a perfect world, all 17 games, those four guys are rocking, and that’s what we hope for, that’s what we’ve planned for. But at the same time, I think Chris is a great option to give those guys a spell at times.”
Rough day for QBs
Friday was Day 2 without Justin Herbert, and the quarterbacks struggled.
Easton Stick, once again taking the starting reps, threw two interceptions. Duggan also threw an interception.
Stick threw the first interception of practice during an 11-on-11 two-minute drill. His pass was batted at the line of scrimmage, and Kristian Fulton picked off the deflected ball.
Later, on a third-and-6, Duggan tried to force a ball into rookie receiver Brenden Rice on the left side. Rookie cornerback Cam Hart broke on the route and got his hand in the passing lane for another deflection. This time, linebacker Nick Niemann snagged it and returned it for a touchdown.
The final play of 11-on-11 was also an interception. On fourth down, Stick threw over the middle, where linebacker Troy Dye was patrolling. He leaped and tipped the ball in the air before coming down with the pick.
The uneven play extended beyond the interceptions. Stick missed a number of open receivers. On the first series of practice, he overthrew Stone Smartt on a crossing route. Shortly thereafter, he overthrew tight end Hayden Hurst on a comeback route. The defense then dominated the offense in a seven-on-seven period in the red zone, breaking up four of Stick’s six passes. Defensive backs Ja’Sir Taylor, AJ Finley, Asante Samuel Jr. and Tarheeb Still all had pass breakups.
Stick did have one excellent throw in the 11-on-11 session, finding Hurst on a post route for a 30-yard touchdown. But the negatives far outweighed the positives for Stick in Friday’s practice.
GO DEEPER
With Justin Herbert sidelined, Chargers backup Easton Stick returns to the spotlight
News and notes
• Herbert, receiver Quentin Johnston, running back Kimani Vidal, offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer, linebacker Junior Colson and receiver Leon Johnson did not practice Friday. Tight end Donald Parham Jr. and linebacker Jeremiah Jean Baptiste worked off to the side. Bosa did not participate in team drills.
• Rookie receiver Ladd McConkey came up limping after making a catch on the opening play of seven-on-seven. McConkey tested out what appeared to be a lower-extremity injury before walking inside with a trainer. He did not return. McConkey also missed Thursday’s practice. Coach Jim Harbaugh said McConkey was working through something.
• Offensive lineman Trey Pipkins also left practice during 11-on-11. After Pipkins, who had been at right guard with the starting offense, departed with a trainer, the Chargers tested out several offensive line groupings. The first grouping: left tackle Rashawn Slater, left guard Zion Johnson, center Brenden Jaimes, right guard Bradley Bozeman and right tackle Joe Alt. The second: left tackle Slater, left guard Johnson, center Bozeman, right guard Jaimes and right tackle Alt.
Salyer has missed the past three practices after he was rolled up on in 11-on-11. Since then, Jaimes has been the sixth offensive lineman. When Slater was in and out of team drills because of an injury earlier this week, the Chargers played Pipkins at tackle, moved Bozeman to right guard and used Jaimes at center.
• Running back Gus Edwards looked lively as a rusher in Friday’s practice. He found a crease on a cutback to the inside on the opening play of the nine-on-seven run period. Later, he picked up a fresh set of downs on a first-down rush up the middle. Jaimes was at center and Bozeman was at guard for this long run.
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(Photo: Kirby Lee / USA Today)
