The Los Angeles Chargers are desperate for some stability at the kicking position this season after the disaster that was 2017, but they have yet to make a decision with the two kickers they have in training camp. According to head coach Anthony Lynn, keeping both cannot be ruled out.
In L.A.’s first preseason game, Caleb Sturgis took the two field goal attempts in the game. He converted from 45 yards and missed from 41. Roberto Aguayo only came in for extra point duty, and he connected on both. During Wednesday’s practice, Sturgis converted 7-of-7 field goal attempts, including one from 53 yards. Aguayo went 4-of-7, with two misses coming from 50 yards or more.
“I’d love to make the decision sooner than later,” Lynn said, per Jeff Miller of the Los Angeles Times. “I really would. But it’s so close right now.”
Lynn said preseason games will be weighted more than practice.
“It’s a long battle. … We’ll see how it plays out in games,” the coach said. “What a player does in games, to me, is what I evaluate the most.”
Sturgis appears to be fully recovered from a hip injury he suffered in the season opener with the Philadelphia Eagles last year. You’d think he would be the favorite to win the job over Aguayo, who has been a disaster since the Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted him higher than any kicker in NFL history.
Lynn noted that the Denver Broncos kept two kickers during the regular season when he was an assistant there, as veteran Jason Elam had begun to lose his leg strength. Still, that situation is never ideal. With the way the Chargers were ruthlessly mocked over their NFL-worst kicking game last season, they are clearly hoping one of Elam or Aguayo steps up and seizes the opportunity.
