Most significant move: An impressive offseason performance and the continuity that would have been achieved by keeping him on the roster did not save veteran receiver Vincent Brown, who was waived/injured by the Chargers. Brown had not practiced since suffering a calf strain during the second day of training camp July 25 but was considered solidly on the roster because of his experience in San Diego’s offense. Brown played all 16 games for the first time in his NFL career in 2013, finishing with 41 receptions for 472 yards and a touchdown. Brown had only one drop on the season. Scheduled to make $1,431,000 in base salary for the upcoming year, Brown’s salary would have been fully guaranteed if he was on the Week 1 roster. The Chargers are about $5 million under the salary cap, so Brown’s release could be a move by San Diego to clear more salary-cap space for transactional moves during the season. The Chargers also like ex-CFL standout Dontrelle Inman and will likely run more two-tight-end sets with the emergence of Ladarius Green. Brown will revert to San Diego’s injured reserve list if he clears waivers.
Bolts go with two QBs: San Diego went with two quarterbacks on this year’s roster, releasing developmental prospect Brad Sorensen. The Southern Utah product had an uneven performance in games and in practice during training camp. He’ll likely be added to the team’s practice squad if he clears waivers. The Chargers kept Sorensen on the active roster as a rookie last year, keeping three quarterbacks. But in 2011 and 2012, San Diego kept only two quarterbacks, so they'll go back to that model in 2014. The Chargers likely needed a roster spot in order to add more depth along the defensive line, and Philip Rivers has the second longest streak of games started by a quarterback behind Eli Manning at 128, so San Diego doesn’t necessarily need a lot of depth there.
Are the Chargers a running team? Yes, San Diego has one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the NFL in Rivers and will run more no-huddle this year. But the Chargers showed their hand in keeping both rookie running backs Marion Grice and Branden Oliver on the active roster -- San Diego is a running team. The Chargers finished 13th in the league in rushing in 2013 with 1,995 rushing yards. But with Ryan Mathews injured at the end of last season, San Diego could not lean on the run game in an AFC divisional playoff loss at Denver. That should not be an issue this year, with five quality running backs currently on the roster and a physical run blocker in fullback/tight end David Johnson.
What’s next: All players waived Saturday are eligible to be claimed off waivers by other NFL teams at 9 a.m. PT Sunday. Teams can start setting practice squads at that time, once waiver claims have been settled.
Chargers' moves: San Diego released 22 players -- TE Mike Flacco, CB Crezdon Butler, DE Doug Worthington, DE Joe Kruger, WR Tevin Reese, QB Brad Sorensen, OL Craig Watts, WR Vincent Brown, DL Chas Alecxih, WR Torrence Allen, LB Victor Aiyewa, S Alden Darby, CB Greg Ducre, T Mike Harris, WR Javontee Herndon, LB Thomas Keiser, LB Cordarro Law, S Adrian Phillips, LB Colton Underwood, OL Kenny Wiggins and C Khalil Wilkes.