JK Scott is back where the Chargers clearly want him, but the leash still feels short.
Los Angeles waived the punter on Sunday as part of its first round of 53-man roster cuts, only to bring him back Monday. The quick reversal made the move look less like a real goodbye and more like a roster shuffle, and Scott is once again lined up to handle punting duties for the 2026 season.
That does not mean the job is locked in.
Scott has given the Chargers enough good moments to keep earning chances. He can create hangtime, help tilt the field, and his career numbers are solid enough. But the bigger picture is harder to ignore: the consistency has not been there often enough.
The latest reminder came in the preseason against the 49ers, when Jacob Cowing took a punt 83 yards for a touchdown. Scott’s missed tackle attempt made the sequence look even worse, and it drew criticism from head coach Jim Harbaugh.
That play fits the larger issue with Scott. It is not just about one ugly punt here or there. The Chargers want special teams to be a real asset, and Scott has to deliver more reliably if that is going to happen.
Through 11 punts this preseason, Scott has averaged 43.8 yards per kick and put five inside the 20. Those are decent enough numbers, but they do not exactly scream elite.
The Chargers’ decision to bring him back so quickly says they still believe he gives them the best shot. If they had wanted to move on, they would not have turned around and re-signed him immediately after cutting him.
So Scott gets another chance. He just can’t treat it like a free pass.
Los Angeles has playoff expectations, and in tight games, field position matters. One punt can change everything - the yardage, the momentum, the whole feel of a game.
Scott has already shown he can be an NFL-caliber punter. Now he has to show it week after week.
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