Tony Jefferson’s game-day uniform was a pale scout crew jersey. As a substitute of carrying the pristine powder blue and gold jersey below the translucent roof at SoFi Stadium on Sundays, the Chargers security confirmed his greatest whereas a delicate breeze blew throughout the follow subject on Wednesdays. He didn’t essentially care if that meant leaping into passing lanes, intercepting passes and breaking apart performs towards his personal teammates.
“That was like my game day,” Jefferson stated.
Scout crew reps for practice-squad gamers and reserves function a stepping stone, proving floor and even stage appearing for Chargers gamers in any respect phases of their careers. Jefferson, a 10-year professional, has turned his follow highlights right into a prime-time position.
The protection who was signed to the lively roster final week after Alohi Gilman went on injured reserve, notched eight tackles towards the Atlanta Falcons in his first begin since Dec. 4, 2022.
Then after follow Wednesday, Jefferson was whisked away to movie a “Sunday Night Football” starter introduction forward of the Chargers’ AFC West recreation towards the two-time defending champion Kansas Metropolis Chiefs.
To the Chargers, the behind-the-scenes practice-squad position is simply as very important as any game-day accountability.
“Coach [Jim Harbaugh] calls it an opportunity squad,” stated large receiver Jalen Reagor, who labored his approach onto the lively roster in Week 7 after signing with the Chargers follow squad on Sept. 23.
The group of 17 follow squad members and a handful of reserves on the lively roster function the scout crew every week with the primary goal of mimicking the opposing crew towards the Chargers starters throughout follow. Scout gamers carrying pull-on mismatched jerseys crowd round a coach who holds a card within the air displaying a play.
Though it appears as if the costume change can be an unglamorous a part of life as knowledgeable soccer participant, point out of scout crew duties usually elicit large smiles from gamers.
When else may Kimani Vidal ever be mistaken for Derrick Henry?
The 5-foot-8, 215-pound sixth-round decide rotates with follow squad operating again Jaret Patterson, impersonating the opposing crew’s operating again every week. Neither pretends they’ve Henry’s 6-3, 247-pound body, however after they lined up towards the Chargers’ top-ranked protection in follow, they tried their greatest to channel Henry’s downhill operating model and velocity.
The Chargers’ Kimani Vidal (30) has frolicked on the scout crew and on the lively roster this season, final week averaging 5 yards in 4 carries towards the Falcons.
(Danny Karnik / Related Press)
“He’s crazy, especially watching him in person, he’s legit that big and that fast,” Vidal stated. “So it’s pretty cool to be him.”
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was a favourite scout crew project for Chargers backups Taylor Heinicke and Easton Stick, who tried to imitate the two-time NFL most dear participant’s model by operating the preliminary scout-team play then breaking free from the pocket and scrambling in circles, operating with the ball in a single hand or trying to juke a defender.
Free from the precise specs of their very own performs, operating scout crew performs is “like backyard football again,” Reagor stated.
“But,” he added, “you’re still honing in your craft.”
Coaches and entrance workplace personnel obsess over each follow rep and drill, offensive coordinator Greg Roman stated. They consider and grade each participant, and for up-and-comers making an attempt to stay within the league, any alternative to line up towards starters are beneficial assessments.
“Our defense is one of the best defenses in the league, so you’re going against the best of the best,” stated Patterson, who’s in his second stint on the Chargers follow squad after signing with Washington in 2021 as an undrafted free agent. “In that sense, if I could do that against them, I could go against — when my number is called — other opponents.”
When Gilman suffered a hamstring harm and went on injured reserve final week, the Chargers all of the sudden wanted Jefferson to go from scout crew nuisance to beginning security. He performed 54 snaps towards the Falcons, bursting off the sideline with three tackles on the primary drive.
Jefferson performed with the ferocity of almost two years of pent up soccer frustration. After working as a scouting intern with the Baltimore Ravens final yr, Jefferson signed with the Chargers hoping to scratch an itch to play that by no means wavered.
Hoping {that a} dominant 14-tackle, two-interception preseason efficiency towards the Dallas Cowboys wouldn’t be his final stand on the sphere, Jefferson proved he may nonetheless make performs on recreation day by doing it in follow. He didn’t thoughts weathering Roman‘s reactions when he went off script.
“I was just trying to put myself in a good position, as if I were playing the game,” Jefferson said. “A few times, that results in interceptions.”
Justin Herbert never hounds Jefferson for going off script on scout team, but receivers accuse him of knowing the play. Jefferson owns up to his scout team tendencies, but the veteran also knows when to dial it back. He saves most of his freelancing for early in the week. As the game approaches, he wants to stick to the assignment to give the offense the clearest look.
“You want to be the best team player you possibly can be,” Jefferson said. “While I’m on the scout crew, I wish to do the most effective look. Whereas I’m enjoying and lively, I wish to play the most effective I presumably can play.”
With starters dominating the stay reps throughout follow, scout crew gamers subsist on psychological reps to remain prepared for his or her alternatives. Solely a snap away from having to return on the sphere, the backup quarterbacks keep engaged with the Chargers’ recreation plan by staying after follow.
Heinicke and Stick may solely get 4 or 5 throws from a real pocket throughout every follow, Stick stated. They keep on the sphere for about 30 extra minutes with senior offensive analyst Marc Trestman to repeat the entire follow script once more with a small group of teammates. Apply squad receiver Jaylen Johnson or third-string heart Sam Mustipher additionally usually keep behind for additional work.
Then they mix into the background on recreation day below headsets and behind clipboards.
The job of scout crew quarterback can really feel thankless at instances, Heinicke stated, as a result of even his greatest impersonation of an opposing quarterback won’t ever be good. However the locker room celebration of a victory is the right message of gratitude.
“If you’re winning,” Stick stated, “you know you’re doing things the right way.”
