Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
With wide receivers falling left and right for the San Diego Chargers, the team needed to scour the free agent market for some last minute help. Even with some good talent still left unsigned like Brandon Lloyd, Laurent Robinson, Deion Branch and (God-forbid) Terrell Owens, the Chargers decided to go with… Seyi Ajiroututu?
The former college roommate of Ryan Mathews, Ajiroututu will begin his third stint with the Chargers in four years. At 6-foot-3, 215 pounds, Ajiroutu is a big-bodied receiver, who kind of resembles Danario Alexander and Malcom Floyd, the two starting receivers who are currently out with injuries. Alexander tore his ACL last week and is out for the season, while Floyd strained his knee and is out for the rest of preseason at least.
Ajirotutu has shown flashes of potential and good chemistry with Philip Rivers. Rivers used to have a lot of success throwing the ball up for grabs to his tall receivers and letting them make a play, but won’t really be able to do that now with Alexander and Floyd out. Tutu could possibly play that role, at least in the final two preseason games, and help Rivers regain some of his confidence.
At this point however, Tutu is likely only a camp body who will have a tough time making the final roster, especially coming into training camp this late. Though he’s been here before, he’ll be learning an entirely different offense this time around and has little time to do it.
If Ajirotutu does make the team, the Bolts will hope he can do to the Houston Texans in Week 1 what he did back in 2010. Tutu’s best career game came against the Texans in his rookie year when he caught 4 passes for 111 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner.
Kevin Chan is a San Diego Chargers writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
