Jason Verrett: Not First Good Player to Be Ruined by Injury

SAN DIEGO, CA – NOVEMBER 22: Jason Verrett #22 of the San Diego Chargers enters the stadium before a game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Qualcomm Stadium on November 22, 2015 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

The Los Angeles Chargers have had some of the most brutal luck in recent memory as the situation regarding cornerback Jason Verrett attests.

They already lost their leading tight end Hunter Henry for the season earlier this year. Now their starting corner, who has a long history of health problems, didn’t even get a chance to contribute. Just prior to the start of training camp, Verrett had to participate in a conditioning test. This is normal for each year and there were no fears about him passing. Sadly something happened and he ended up tearing his Achilles.

It’s such a shame because it’s clear that Verrett is a good player when he’s actually able to stay on the field. The one season he managed to make it most of the year without incident, he went to the Pro Bowl and had three interceptions. Yet in 2016 he made it through just four games. Last year it was only one. It’s hard not to think that this latest setback might signal the end of his tenure with the Chargers, who can’t afford to wait on him anymore.

Tests confirmed that Chargers’ CB Jason Verrett officially tore his Achilles, per source. Done for the season.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 27, 2018

Chargers have felt this familiar, uncomfortable sting before

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Truth be told this pain is a common one for the Chargers franchise. Too often they’ve seen promising players undone by persistent injury problems. Shawn Merriman was a beast in his first three seasons with the team, a dominant pass rusher. Then the health problems surfaced and he was never the same. Marcus McNeill was a two-time Pro Bowler in his first four seasons at tackle, but head and neck injuries ended his career after just two more years.

Ryan Mathews was drafted to replace LaDainian Tomlinson. He went to the Pro Bowl his second season but was always missing games due to various health issues. He ended up going over 1,000 yards rushing just twice before he was gone from the team. It’s hard not to wonder how different the fortunes of this franchise might be if its players didn’t keep succumbing to an unbelievable streak of misfortune on the injury front.

Verrett is merely the latest in a long line. One can only hope this painful streak doesn’t continue into the season otherwise the team will have to watch another year with Philip Rivers go by. He’s only got so many left, and their plans for after him aren’t even in the beginning stages.

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