The Chargers are staring at a 0-7 disaster, and the deadline should be about one thing: getting Justin Herbert some help, now and later.
Los Angeles has no real reason to act like a buyer. The offense has been stuck in the mud all season, and the run game has been a mess.
With the exception of the tackles, the blocking has cratered. Alec Ingold is gone, Scott Matlock hasn’t solved the fullback spot since the bye week against the Rams, and Cole Strange has been the worst guard on the roster for most of the year.
The Chargers have shuffled through just about every other option at left guard and still haven’t found an answer.
That’s why the smart play is to hunt for low-cost moves that can patch holes without costing real capital. A few teams could be open to dealing players before the deadline, and the Chargers should be calling.
One name worth circling is Buccaneers fullback Ko Kieft. This is a player the Chargers have already had their eye on, and the fit still makes sense.
Kieft’s snap count dropped after an elbow injury, and rookie tight end Bauer Sharp has held onto the job. Kieft is under contract through 2027, and a move could help both sides.
If the Chargers are going to use a fullback in 2027 and beyond, getting one in the building before free agency would at least give them a better read. And with the way the position has been asked to go one-on-one with edge rushers far too often in 2026, an upgrade could matter for Herbert’s protection.
Kieft has shown he can handle defensive linemen one-on-one and can punish defenders as a lead blocker. The Buccaneers already have his replacement, so the price should be a simple late-round pick swap.
The Chargers also need help on the back end, especially on special teams. Eagles cornerback Kelee Ringo hasn’t been much of a factor this season and has mostly played special teams.
Los Angeles is thin at corner and has leaned on reclamation projects to fill out the depth chart. Deane Leonard has been dealing with a long list of injuries and is on an expiring contract, which makes Ringo a logical target.
He brings size, physical traits, and a floor as a special teams player that could help the Chargers keep their special teams rebound going. His expiring deal and limited role could make him available for another late-round pick swap, and if he hits, he could grow into cornerback and special teams depth for the future.
There’s also a more practical offensive line option sitting in the division. Rams backup interior lineman Justin Dedich can play all three interior spots, and he’s been stuck on injured reserve because the Rams’ roster is full and they’ve used their IR activations elsewhere.
Dedich was important for them last season, and an injury over the summer kept him out of training camp. The Chargers could use interior depth with experience, even if the trade market for linemen during the season is usually thin.
Since players on injured reserve have been eligible to be traded since 2018, the receiving team would take on the injury risk. If Los Angeles doesn’t plan to activate one of its own injured linemen, a late Day 3 pick swap with the Rams could be on the table.
For a team this far down the ladder, the deadline shouldn’t be about chasing a rescue. It should be about making small, sensible moves that help Herbert survive the rest of the season and give the Chargers a few more answers going forward.
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One of the more revealing parts of Fangios update centered on Jonathan Greenard, whose limited practice time has made the adjustment process tougher than it should be. He also addressed Jordan Davis and the broader need for the defense to tighten up its play, but stopped short of making any dramatic roster declarations, saying there was no current need to chase down trade rumors or force a solution before the staff is ready. [Read more 🡒]
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The Eagles will have to sort out a Giants attack that Fangio believes has more structure and more juice under head coach John Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Matt Nagy. For a Philadelphia defense that has already spent plenty of time chasing division familiarity, the challenge now is adjusting to a quarterback who has changed the feel of the matchup in a hurry. Fangio clearly sees the upgrade, and the Eagles will have to prove they can slow it down. [Read more 🡒]
Eli Stowers Is Giving The Eagles A Tough Timing Decision
Eli Stowers is starting to look like more than just a developmental piece for the Eagles, and his return from injured reserve has arrived at a time when the tight end room is worth watching closely. The rookie flashed in Week 8 against Washington, showing enough burst and reliability to remind the staff why he was worth keeping in the mix after the injury setback.
Philadelphia now has a timing question on its hands. Stowers is pushing for a larger role, and his path could open even faster if the Eagles decide to move on from Dallas Goedert before the deadline, which would change the depth chart and the urgency around how quickly the rookie is brought along. [Read more 🡒]