Los Angeles Times - 25.08.2019

He was back on the field
at Dignity Health Sports
Park on Saturday night,
Jaylen Watkins taking an-
other step toward what he
hopes is his ultimate return.
For the record, the defen-
sive back never has played in
a real game for the Chargers.
His most recent NFL ap-
pearance came in the Super
Bowl after the 2017 season.
He was a champion that
night, Watkins playing
mostly special teams for
Philadelphia in the Eagles’
41-33 victory over New Eng-
land. He signed with the
Chargers two months later,
tore an anterior cruciate lig-
ament in the preseason four
months after that, and basi-
cally disappeared.
Watkins returned home
to Florida for the majority of
his rehabilitation and
watched from afar as the
Chargers went 12-4 and ad-

vanced to the second round of the playoffs. “I’ve never missed a season since I was 5 years old,” he said. “That was my first year trying to figure out what I was going to do after rehab. Usually, it’s hanging out with the guys or watch- ing other games. “[But] it was tough to watch games and watch guys. I had a baby boy, so I was able to spend a lot of time with him and [he] kind of kept me going and fo- cused.” Watkins was out there Saturday in a 23-15 exhibition loss to Seattle, entering at free safety in the third quarter after the Chargers began the game with their starting secondary. The appearance was the second of the preseason for Watkins after he sat out the opener. He played last weekend against New Orleans and had an interception deep in Chargers territory to halt a Saints threat on the anni- versary of his torn ACL. Watkins said he realized it was exactly a year to the date when he walked into the home team training room and began to recall the last time he had been in

there. “It kind of made me happy because when it hap- pened, you think it’s over,” he said. “Then fast forward a year, you’re back in the same spot getting ready to play. I don’t think it gets better than that.” Entering training camp, Watkins was expected to battle for the No. 1 job at free safety, where starter Rayshawn Jenkins has re- fused to budge. Watkins’ potential to play a role increased last week when Derwin James suf- fered a stress fracture in his foot, an injury that will sideline the All-Pro strong safety three to four months. Watkins, a veteran of 36 NFL games who has the versatili- ty to also play cornerback, is among the group vying to help fill the void created by James’ absence. “Some people, when they get hurt [they] say, ‘Why me?’ ” safety Adrian Phillips said. “[Watkins] went back to the drawing board, started working and made himself better than what he was before.” The year was not an easy one for Watkins, who said the most difficult part of re- habbing was “not being

around ball.” He’d watch the Chargers games on television and send text messages that his teammates would find wait- ing for them when they returned to their lockers. Following his interception against New Orleans, he said he received congratu- latory texts from friends who’ve had ACL injuries, some of whom still haven’t made it back. “How to handle adver- sity,” Watkins said when asked what he learned while sitting out. “I have in the past, but I’ll say this is the big one for me just because of the stigma behind an ACL.” Outside of the secondary, several starters on the Char- gers’ defense didn’t play Sat- urday, including Joey Bosa, Thomas Davis and Melvin Ingram. With those notable ab- sences, the unit struggled mightily trying to contain the Seahawks. Russell Wil- son led Seattle to a pair of second-quarter touchdown drives, covering 84 and 45 yards. Seattle finished the first half with 225 total yards and 15 first downs. The Sea- hawks also averaged six

yards per rush on 21 at- tempts. Offensively, the Chargers sat Philip Rivers and Keenan Allen and continued to have a hard time execut- ing in short-yardage situations, something coach Anthony Lynn is particu- larly interested in given the youth along his offensive line. They failed to convert twice in the first half on fourth and short, quarterback Tyrod Taylor fumbling the exchange on the first at- tempt and Troymaine Pope losing two yards on the second as the offensive line crumbled. “I’m really disappointed in the fourth and ones,” Lynn said. “Those are gotta- have-it situations. You’re No. 1 in the league last year in that category. We’re a little behind right now.”

Etc. In his first action since suffering an ankle injury in last year’s regular-season fi- nale, linebacker Jatavis Brown looked fresh, finish- ing with seven total tackles. ... Wide receiver Dontrelle Inman, who signed Thurs- day, entered the game in the first quarter. ... Fifth-round

pick Easton Stick hit Andre Patton for an eight-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. ... Former Chargers backup quarterback Geno Smith scored a touchdown for Seattle on an eight-yard run in the third quarter.

Watkins works toward his delayed Chargers debut

Defensive back takes

next step back from

injury in exhibition.

SEATTLE 23
CHARGERS 15

By Jeff Miller

LATIMES.COM/SPORTS SS SUNDAY, AUGUST 25, 2019D3

NFL

New England Patriots
tight end Lance Kendricks
has been suspended without
pay for the first game of the
season for violating the
NFL’s policy and program
on substances of abuse.
Kendricks’ suspension
leaves the Patriots further
depleted at the position.
Benjamin Watson will miss
the first four games of the
season for violating the
league’s policy on perform-
ance-enhancers, and four-
time All-Pro Rob Gron-
kowskiretired after last sea-
son.
Kendricks is eligible to
participate in all remaining
preseason practices and the
team’s final preseason game.
He will be eligible to return
to the active roster on Sept.
9, following the team’s Week 1
game against Pittsburgh.
Kendricks signed with
the Patriots last month after
he spent his first eight sea-

sons with the Rams and Packers.

Texans’ Miller hurt Deshaun Watson didn’t get the longer preseason look he wanted against the Dallas Cowboys. The Houston Texans couldn’t get their quarter-

back off the field fast enough, especially after running back Lamar Miller sus- tained what coach Bill O’Brien called a serious knee injury on the second play. Watson didn’t return for a second series after getting dropped twice in three plays.

The first play wasn’t a sack because of defensive hold- ing, the second was and re- sulted in a fumble, the first of four Houston turnovers in a 34-0 exhibition loss to the Cowboys. Miller was carted off after defensive tackle Maliek Collins slammed into his left leg at the line of scrimmage in what figures to be Miller’s only carry of the preseason. The eighth-year back didn’t play in the first two exhib- itions. “It’s very tough,” Watson said. “You have a guy that’s so special to our team. Any- body that gets hurt, it’s tough. But he’s one of the guys that has a lot of energy and a lot of power for this team. It’s tough to see him go off in the cart.” Dak Prescott scrambled and threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Michael Gallup while playing the first two series for Dallas. Prescott was two for five for 22 yards, the three incomple-

tions his first of the preseason.

Other games San Francisco quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo was impressive in his return to Arrowhead Stadium, and Chiefs counterpart Patrick Mahomes may have been even better, as the 49ers beat Kansas City 27-17 in their third preseason game. Garoppolo was 14 for 20 for 188 yards while playing the entire first half. Mahomes finished eight for 10 for 126 yards, highlighted by a 62- yard catch-and-run to Da- mien Williams in which the Chiefs’ injury-prone running back raced right by the woe- begone linebacker covering him. ... Dalvin Cook had an 85-yard touchdown run for Minnesota, the highlight of an otherwise rough first half by the first-team offense during a 20-9 victory by the Vikings over the Arizona Cardinals. ... Drew Brees threw a 19-yard touchdown

pass to Michael Thomas to cap his only drive in his preseason debut, and the New Orleans Saints defeated the New York Jets 28-13.

Etc. Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera says he expects injured quarterback Cam Newtonto return to practice “pretty soon,” without giv- ing a timetable. Rivera re- mains “cautiously opti- mistic” that Newton, who re- mains in a walking boot, will be ready for the Sept. 8 regular-season opener against the Rams. ... Detroit Lions coach Matt Patricia says injuries to linebacker Jarrad Davis and center Frank Ragnow are not season- ending. Patricia did not elaborate much more on the severity of the injuries to two of Detroit’s starters. Davis went down with an injured right leg, and Ragnow had to be helped off the field during the Lions’ 24-20 loss to Buf- falo on Friday night.

NOTES

Patriots’ Kendricks suspended for season opener

associated press

LANCE KENDRICKS is banned for violating the NFL’s policy and program on substances of abuse.

Elise AmendolaAssociated Press

Seattle .........................0 16 7 0 — 23 CHARGERS...................3 0 0 12 —

15

First Quarter CHARGERS— FG Badgley 40, 2:59. Second Quarter Sea— Penny 3 run (Myers kick), 11:35. Sea— Prosise 1 run (kick failed), 4:16. Sea— FG Myers 58, :02. Third Quarter Sea— Smith 8 run (Myers kick), :16. Fourth Quarter CHARGERS— Patton 8 pass from Stick (kick failed), 9:26. CHARGERS— Stick 4 run (kick blocked), 3:22. TEAM STATISTICS SEA LAC First downs............................24 17 Total Net Yards .....................367 280 Rushes-yards ..................42-185 23-99 Passing...............................182 181 Punt Returns ........................1-0 0-0 Kickoff Returns....................3-31 1-12 Interceptions Ret. ..................0-0 0-0 Comp-Att-Int ..................17-27-0 22-30-0 Sacked-Yards Lost.................1-8 1-12 Punts..............................3-41.3 2-54.5 Fumbles-Lost........................1-0 1-0 Penalties-Yards....................7-55 5-39 Time of Possession ............33:30 26:30 INDIVIDUAL LEADERS RUSHING: SEATTLE, Prosise 5-32, R.Wilson 3-31, Homer 9-27, Smith 6-24, Carson 3-23, Penny 8-22, McKissic 6-20, Lockett 1-6, X.Turner 1-0. CHARGERS, T.Taylor 6-34, Pope 5-27, Stick 3-14, J.Jackson 5-13, Ekeler 4-11. PASSING: SEATTLE, R.Wilson 6-9-0-73, Smith 11- 18-0-117. CHARGERS, T.Taylor 6-9-0-61, C.Jones 4-5-0- 50, Stick 12-16-0-82. RECEIVING: SEATTLE, Hollister 3-17, Penny 3-15, McKissic 3-11, Ursua 2-52, Lockett 2-50, Jar.Brown 1- 18, Prosise 1-15, Jennings 1-12, Saxton 1-0. CHARGERS, A.Scott 4-66, Pope 3-8, Ekeler 2-22, Culkin 2-13, Henry 2-13, D.Newsome 2-0, J.Moore 1-15, V.Green 1-13, Smallwood 1-12, M.Williams 1-11, Patton 1-8, Gore 1-8, J.Jackson 1-4. FIELD GOALS MISSED:None.

His background away
from football includes work-
ing in investment banking.
So Rams quarterback John
Wolford was trained to rec-
ognize opportunities for
growth.
That’s one reason why
Wolford, who played eight
games in the defunct Alli-
ance of American Football,
jumped at the chance to sign
with the Rams.
Despite being the fourth
quarterback on the roster,
playing for coach Sean Mc-
Vay and learning from Jared
Goff was a deal he could not
pass up.
“It’s a great culture, they
went to the Super Bowl,
Sean McVay is obviously ex-
tremely smart and Jared is a
great guy to learn from,”
Wolford said last week. “Add
all those things up, and it’s a
good mix.”
With Goff, Blake Bortles
and Brandon Allen ahead of
him on the depth chart, Wol-
ford is a longshot to make
the roster. But he could find
a place on the practice
squad, with the Rams or per-
haps another NFL team.
He continued to build his
resume Saturday in the
Rams’ 10-6 victory over the
Denver Broncos at the Coli-
seum.
Wolford replaced Bran-
don Allen late in the second
quarter and again late in the
third. His fourth-quarter
touchdown pass to receiver
Jalen Greene gave the Rams
a 10-6 lead. He completed six
of 12 passes for 54 yards.
“I’m just going to do
everything I can to put my-

self in the best position to make this roster,” Wolford said after the game. “I’d love to make this team, and if not hopefully I keep playing well and I have tape for 31 other teams to look at.” McVay has held Goff and other established starters out of preseason games so

that they will be ready for the Sept. 8 opener against the Carolina Panthers. Bortles started against the Oakland Raiders and the Dallas Cow- boys but McVay held him out against the Broncos. Allen started and completed 12 of 19 passes for 162 yards, including a 51-yard

sideline strike to receiver Mike Thomas in the first quarter. Wolford, 23, went to high school in Jacksonville, Fla., and played in college at Wake Forest, where as a sen- ior he passed for 29 touchdowns, with six interceptions. He was on the verge of

starting a job with an investment banking firm in 2018 when the New York Jets of- fered him a spot for training camp. Wolford played in one preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles and completed eight of 20 passes for 89 yards, with an interception, before he was re- leased. That experience helped him get drafted by the Arizo- na Hotshots of the Alliance of American Football. In eight games, he passed for 14 touchdowns, with seven interceptions, before the league went under. “I got exactly what I wanted out of it,” Wolford said of his AAF experience. “It’s a shame that it was cut short, but I was able to get eight games on tape, and that’s really what got me back to the NFL. “I look back at that as a fun team, and it helped me out. So I’m thankful for it.” In April, Wolford was in Southern California visiting an aunt before a scheduled workout with the Minnesota Vikings in Minnesota the next day. He said the Rams called and asked him to work out at their Thousand Oaks facil- ity. “I was on my way to Min- nesota right after the workout, and then [the Rams] called me and said, ‘We’re going to sign you,’” Wolford said. “So I ended up not hav- ing to fly to Minnesota. It was actually snowing in Min- nesota in April.” Despite the seemingly long odds to make the roster, Wolford has been encour- aged by the feedback he has received. “I thought he did a great

job,” McVay said. “You could see he got through some pro- gressions tonight, was able to evade the rush when some guys came into the backfield and make some plays with his legs. And you could see why he’s just a little baller.” He completed six of eight passes for 54 yards against the Raiders, and was five of nine for 26 yards against the Cowboys. He is expected to get ex- tended playing time again Thursday when the Rams conclude the preseason against the Houston Texans in Houston. Wolford’s resume will continue to grow. He has eight games of AAF tape and four games of preseason NFL tape for the Rams and other NFL teams to ponder.

Rams’ Wolford banks on building resume

RAMS FOURTH-STRING QUARTERBACK John Wolford completed six of 12 passes for 54 yards and a fourth-quarter touchdown pass against the Broncos.

Luis SincoLos Angeles Times

RAMS 10
DENVER 6

By Gary Klein

Denver..........................0 6 0 0 — 6 RAMS...........................0 3 0 7 — 10 Second Quarter RAMS— FG Zuerlein 37, 10:48. Denver— FG McManus 31, 5:14. Denver— FG McManus 38, :19. Fourth Quarter RAMS— Greene 4 pass from Wolford (B.Miller kick), 12:38. TEAM STATISTICS DEN LAR First downs............................16 18 Total Net Yards .....................213 323 Rushes-yards ....................21-73 32-97 Passing...............................140 226 Punt Returns ........................2-5 3-4 Kickoff Returns....................1-20 1-19 Interceptions Ret...................0-0 1-0 Comp-Att-Int..................22-35-1 18-31-0 Sacked-Yards Lost .................1-9 0-0 Punts..............................4-43.3 2-45.5 Fumbles-Lost........................1-0 0-0 Penalties-Yards....................6-46 9-71 Time of Possession ............30:06 29:54 INDIVIDUAL LEADERS RUSHING: DENVER, Muhammad 10-30, Dav.Williams 3-18, Hogan 4-14, D.Jackson 4-11. RAMS, Kelly 10-32, Henderson 11-28, J.Davis 5-22, Wolford 5-8, Bra.Allen 1-7. PASSING: DENVER, Hogan 8-12-0-69, Rypien 14- 23-1-80. RAMS, Bra.Allen 12-19-0-162, Wolford 6-12- 0-64. RECEIVING: DENVER, Fumagalli 5-44, McKnight 3- 16, Butt 2-17, Muhammad 2-15, F.Brown 2-9, Cracraft 2-9, M.Stephens 2-7, D.Jackson 2-3, Winfree 1-19, Benson 1-10. RAMS, Webster 4-47, M.Thomas 3-76, Hodge 3-54, Mundt 3-24, Natson 2-5, Kelly 1-12, Greene 1-4, Henderson 1-4. FIELD GOALS MISSED: RAMS, Zuerlein 58.

Los Angeles Times - 25.08.2019

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