The Los Angeles Chargers could still use some help at tight end following the season-ending knee injury to starter Hunter Henry. The team has already reached out to long-time stalwart Antonio Gates to discuss a potential reunion after they decided to part ways with him this offseason.
But if they can’t get a deal done with Gates, the Chargers may just turn to an unexpected player on the roster to fill in at the position: defensive end Melvin Ingram.
According to Eric D. Williams of ESPN, Ingram has apparently been pushing for more snaps on offense and has shown off some of his pass-catching skills after practice.
“It's just getting in where I can fit in, you feel me?” Ingram said, when asked about the possibility of playing tight end in 2018. “Just making some plays — the more you can do — everybody here knows that I want to get me a couple touches.”
Ingram even joked that he’d be gunning for Gates’ touchdown record if he gets the chance to play his former teammate’s position.
“I'm going to try and go break Gates' record,” Ingram said, smiling. “I told Phil (Philip Rivers) the other day, me and him can go break whatever touchdown record he and Gates got.”
While Ingram playing tight end may sound like an amusing proposition, the Chargers don’t exactly have a ton of great options at the position at the moment. After Virgil Green, they have no other reliable alternatives to choose from.
It certainly won’t be ideal for the Chargers to have Ingram getting some snaps at tight end. But if they are unable to find someone who is markedly better than the ones they have right now, they may have no choice but to give Ingram a go.
Follow Us
Subscribe