12 Chargers Who Won't Return Next Season
![Oct 29, 2023; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers running back Austin Ekeler (30) Oct 29, 2023; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers running back Austin Ekeler (30)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_5972,h_3359,x_1257,y_1632/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/195/01hp27e9xxn2hrp1acdk.jpg)
6. Austin Johnson
I think it's safe to call the Austin Johnson signing a failed move in L.A.
The veteran defensive tackle was brought in ahead of the 2022 season, and even before his season was cut short by a Week 9 knee injury, he struggled. Then in 2023, when stayed healthy enough to play a full 17 games, he performed even worse.
You're not expecting big pass-rush contributions from a defensive tackle, but you are certainly expecting more than 0 sacks and 1 QB hit across 17 games.
And while you might be willing to accept poor pass-rushing from a top-end run defender, Johnson wasn't that either. He had just 2 TFLs across the 640 snaps he played in 2023, and PFF gave him a run defense grade of just 48.4.
Hitting free agency off of two straight poor seasons, the soon to be 30-year-old Johnson is not going to find a big market for his services, and the Chargers shouldn't be among the interested teams.