Official 2026 Chargers News | Acquisitions | Transactions | Injuries

[FoutsFan]

So looks like I am in the wrong here.

Jr was not injured last year outside of the appendectomy (which does not lead into knee/ankle injuries unless it is a player someone likes and is trying to defend)

JR had a hell of a season last year.

His epic rookie highlight reel is right next to Fouts, Gates (HOF'ers) and Henley (I was told it was there when I asked to see it, then I was told it didn't exist, not sure which is true)..

I was wrong to exclude the appendectomy from football related injuries.

I was wrong to hope Jr has a much better year in year 2 (apparently he cannot improve on his rookie year).

Other players are ok to get on due to injuries but Jr. is off limits.

Got it, this year when/if he plays I will dutifully repeat this.

475e735c-c725-4b6e-bcaf-184e1be2c070_text.gif

[Boltjolt]

So looks like I am in the wrong here.

Jr was not injured last year outside of the appendectomy (which does not lead into knee/ankle injuries unless it is a player someone likes and is trying to defend)

JR had a hell of a season last year.

His epic rookie highlight reel is right next to Fouts, Gates (HOF'ers) and Henley (I was told it was there when I asked to see it, then I was told it didn't exist, not sure which is true)..

I was wrong to exclude the appendectomy from football related injuries.

I was wrong to hope Jr has a much better year in year 2 (apparently he cannot improve on his rookie year).

Other players are ok to get on due to injuries but Jr. is off limits.

Got it, this year when/if he plays I will dutifully repeat this.

475e735c-c725-4b6e-bcaf-184e1be2c070_text.gif

Imo he didn't have an epic rookie season but the nature of it doesn't deter me from thinking he will improve and be better. I certainly expect him to be better. Knowing the defensive playbook doesn't mean you are plug and play, just means your learning curve is smaller. Still has to adapt to the NFL.
Then he had health issues.

I never thought he was beating out Perryman and wasn't expecting Henley to come out on fire. Henley was a pleasant surprise.

Perryman we knew would get hurt and he will again this year but he is a thumper when he isn't hurt.

Colson just has to be better to fill in better and work his way to a starting role going forward. I have no thoughts that he can't do that.

[dmac_bolt]

So looks like I am in the wrong here.

Jr was not injured last year outside of the appendectomy (which does not lead into knee/ankle injuries unless it is a player someone likes and is trying to defend)

JR had a hell of a season last year.

His epic rookie highlight reel is right next to Fouts, Gates (HOF'ers) and Henley (I was told it was there when I asked to see it, then I was told it didn't exist, not sure which is true)..

I was wrong to exclude the appendectomy from football related injuries.

I was wrong to hope Jr has a much better year in year 2 (apparently he cannot improve on his rookie year).

Other players are ok to get on due to injuries but Jr. is off limits.

Got it, this year when/if he plays I will dutifully repeat this.

475e735c-c725-4b6e-bcaf-184e1be2c070_text.gif

this feels like its important to you. Are you arguing with anyone in particular anymore?

Beats me too if Colson is going to be a LB force this year for us. I don't know how anyone can use indelible ink to either put him in the starting lineup or write him off as a bust at this point.
when I read his book, all I see are ...

[Charge!]

Fouts had his moments. Surprisingly under HCs Prothro and Waller. With the hiring of Don Coryell in 1978 major changes occurred and Dan had his deservedly HOF career.
Coaching matters.

Coaching is huge.... the team was losing regularly until Coryell was hired.... and it took same personnel a few games for Coryell to up the offense and jell.... we won the last 4 games that season and averaged over 40 PPG! many drives, fouts would open up drive with a deep post to Joiner getting ball past mid field.... then next pass went to end zone or red zone.... Fouts was known as the mad bomber.... then later in his career was known as old blood and guts!!!...continuing to play in a game with broken nose and blood covered jersey!

In '79 we had a GREAT nearly HOF OL and a great DL...HOF receiver, TE, QB... one year we had 9 offensive players in Pro bowl... .... we stupidly traded Dean and Johnson to the 49ers and they helped create a great pass rush that helped 49ers win first SB....

That Chargers team drafted:

Fouts
Jefferson
Winslow
Dean
Johnson
Kelcher
Mike Williams
Fuller
Russ Washington
Doug Wilkerson
Macek
Shields
Woodrow Lowe
Leroy Jones
James Brooks
Hank Bower the howitzer.... great STer and impossible to stop on 3rd and one or 4th and one....when everyone knew he was getting the ball!


And traded for:

ED White
Muncie
Chandler
Joiner (started out as a blazing fast CIN DB)


Many of the above players were Pro Bowlers, All Pros and HOFers... and i may have missed some...

[richpjr]

Imo he didn't have an epic rookie season but the nature of it doesn't deter me from thinking he will improve and be better. I certainly expect him to be better. Knowing the defensive playbook doesn't mean you are plug and play, just means your learning curve is smaller. Still has to adapt to the NFL.
Then he had health issues.

I never thought he was beating out Perryman and wasn't expecting Henley to come out on fire. Henley was a pleasant surprise.

Perryman we knew would get hurt and he will again this year but he is a thumper when he isn't hurt.

Colson just has to be better to fill in better and work his way to a starting role going forward. I have no thoughts that he can't do that.

Colson did not have a good year last season but the overreaction about him being injury prone is kind of strange to me as he wasn't injury prone in college. I suspect he shows a nice jump this year and he and Henley end up our starting LBs for the next few years and we'll be quite happy with them.

[Ghost of Quacksaw]

Coaching is huge.... the team was losing regularly until Coryell was hired.... and it took same personnel a few games for Coryell to up the offense and jell.... we won the last 4 games that season and averaged over 40 PPG! many drives, fouts would open up drive with a deep post to Joiner getting ball past mid field.... then next pass went to end zone or red zone.... Fouts was known as the mad bomber.... then later in his career was known as old blood and guts!!!...continuing to play in a game with broken nose and blood covered jersey!

In '79 we had a GREAT nearly HOF OL and a great DL...HOF receiver, TE, QB... one year we had 9 offensive players in Pro bowl... .... we stupidly traded Dean and Johnson to the 49ers and they helped create a great pass rush that helped 49ers win first SB....

That Chargers team drafted:

Fouts
Jefferson
Winslow
Dean
Johnson
Kelcher
Mike Williams
Fuller
Russ Washington
Doug Wilkerson
Macek
Shields
Woodrow Lowe
Leroy Jones
James Brooks
Hank Bower the howitzer.... great STer and impossible to stop on 3rd and one or 4th and one....when everyone knew he was getting the ball!


And traded for:

ED White
Muncie
Chandler
Joiner (started out as a blazing fast CIN DB)


Many of the above players were Pro Bowlers, All Pros and HOFers... and i may have missed some...

Hank Bauer was a UDFA , originally signed by the Cowboys. The Chargers picked him up after Dallas cut him at the end of camp.

[Charge!]

Colson did not have a good year last season but the overreaction about him being injury prone is kind of strange to me as he wasn't injury prone in college. I suspect he shows a nice jump this year and he and Henley end up our starting LBs for the next few years and we'll be quite happy with them.

agree!

[Charge!]

Hank Bauer was a UDFA , originally signed by the Cowboys. The Chargers picked him up after Dallas cut him at the end of camp.

yes, that is right.....even better!... but my point is those coryell teams had loads of talent on OL, DL, and skill positions....

We also picked up a clutch kicker Benerske that way also...

[sonorajim]

Coaching is huge.... the team was losing regularly until Coryell was hired.... and it took same personnel a few games for Coryell to up the offense and jell.... we won the last 4 games that season and averaged over 40 PPG! many drives, fouts would open up drive with a deep post to Joiner getting ball past mid field.... then next pass went to end zone or red zone.... Fouts was known as the mad bomber.... then later in his career was known as old blood and guts!!!...continuing to play in a game with broken nose and blood covered jersey!

In '79 we had a GREAT nearly HOF OL and a great DL...HOF receiver, TE, QB... one year we had 9 offensive players in Pro bowl... .... we stupidly traded Dean and Johnson to the 49ers and they helped create a great pass rush that helped 49ers win first SB....
~~~~~
]

Fouts really cared. One of my favorite plays by him was illegal. He was intercepted and the player with the ball had been knocked to the ground and Dan speared him on the ground with the top of his helmet. I can't remember if it was called but he was clearly P O'd I think his teammates liked that about him. Bauer? OMG crazy. I remember one kick coverage he was knocked to the ground several times and still made the tackle. They were awesome fun to watch

[dmac_bolt]

Fouts really cared. ...

oh my ...

[Charge!]

Fouts really cared. One of my favorite plays by him was illegal. He was intercepted and the player with the ball had been knocked to the ground and Dan speared him on the ground with the top of his helmet. I can't remember if it was called but he was clearly P O'd I think his teammates liked that about him. Bauer? OMG crazy. I remember one kick coverage he was knocked to the ground several times and still made the tackle. They were awesome fun to watch

agree!..... and what most forget, is back in those days, when a QB was sacked, oit was not just one or 2 guys doing it....it was a dogpile, with QB at the bottom and multiple guys slugging him inside of that pile...trying to get him to let go of the ball....... that is how his nose got broke..... that was a much tougher nastier league than today.... today, there are quick whistles, in the grasp calls, etc to save the QB's and reduce injuries.... not sure nice guys like peyton manning would have survived that kind of abuse.... lol

[OG619FrightninLightnin]

So looks like I am in the wrong here.

Jr was not injured last year outside of the appendectomy (which does not lead into knee/ankle injuries unless it is a player someone likes and is trying to defend)

JR had a hell of a season last year.

His epic rookie highlight reel is right next to Fouts, Gates (HOF'ers) and Henley (I was told it was there when I asked to see it, then I was told it didn't exist, not sure which is true)..

I was wrong to exclude the appendectomy from football related injuries.

I was wrong to hope Jr has a much better year in year 2 (apparently he cannot improve on his rookie year).

Other players are ok to get on due to injuries but Jr. is off limits.

Got it, this year when/if he plays I will dutifully repeat this.

475e735c-c725-4b6e-bcaf-184e1be2c070_text.gif

Colson injured is ankle vs Browns. Fairly serious