The San Diego Chargers are not planning to talk to Eric Weddle about a new contract as he pulls a holdout that could last into training camp and this comes as the team may work on an extension with quarterback Philip Rivers after trade talk this offseason, while rookie Melvin Gordon looks poised to start for the team after strong workouts in OTAs.
Rivers was mentioned in trade rumors this offseason and now the team is looking at offering an extension, as Rivers is heading into the final year of his contract. According to Pro Football Talk, the Chargers were mentioned in numerous trade rumors regarding Rivers and Marcus Mariota, but no deal ever came close top happening. The team did trade up in the draft, but that was to get Gordon in the first round.
According to UT San Diego, Gordon looked good in workouts for OTAs and now he looks like the lead back over Donald Brown and Danny Woodhead. Gordon was a record setter in college and he is the type of downhill runner the team needs, as Woodhead and Brown are not as good up the middle. Gordon should get the chance to start once training camp hits and he likely will need to lose the job by someone else beating him. Gordon comes in with a strong college career behind him and he could be a perfect fit for the Mike McCoy offense.
The team let Ryan Mathews go in free agency and while Donald Brown, Branden Oliver and Danny Woodhead are returning, the team could turn to Gordon. The Chargers love using their backs as receivers and both Oliver and Woodhead are better skilled than Gordon at that, but he is the better overall runner. Gordon likely will be the featured back, as he had just 22 catches during his time at Wisconsin, leaving the other backs to compliment him in the offense.
Weddle is dealing with a contract issue with the Chargers and there is a chance that he could hold out for the rest of offseason activities and training camp. According to Kevin Acee of U-T San Diego, the contract situation with Weddle is "turning uglier," as the Chargers have been told by head coach Mike McCoy "to move on without Weddle." Weddle is 30 years old and is in the final year of his deal and he said earlier in the offseason that he would stay away without a new deal.
Rivers said that he is fine playing out his contract in San Diego and now he could be willing to sign an extension. Rivers may want a smaller sized extension when it comes to years, as he is wary of moving to Los Angeles if that happens with the team. Rivers has had a strong run over the past couple years with the Chargers and he has been playing well for the team. Rivers now has some more offensive weapons coming in, as the Chargers traded up in the draft to take Gordon out of Wisconsin.
