Who Should I Start? Jalen Reagor or Efton Chism III

Thursday, July 24, 2:58 PM

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Jalen Reagor did not participate in the team's Wednesday practice after tweaking "something in his lower half" on Tuesday, according to Daniel Popper of The Athletic. Notably, Popper writes that Reagor had been "playing consistently with the first-team offense as an outside receiver through the first five practices." Reagor played in eight games for the Chargers in 2024, recording just seven receptions for 100 yards. The Chargers appear to be holding an open competition for playing time at wide receiver behind Ladd McConkey. Reagor, Quentin Johnston, and rookies Tre' Harris and Keandre Lambert-Smith should be considered the main contenders. Depending on the severity of this injury, it threatens to derail Reagor's chance to win a starting role.

Saturday, August 16, 6:52 PM

New England Patriots wide receiver Efton Chism III caught all six of his targets for 71 yards and a touchdown during Saturday's preseason win over the Minnesota Vikings. Chism is an undrafted free agent who is competing for a spot on New England's 53-man roster. All of his catches Saturday came in the first half, making his performance even more remarkable. The rookie didn't play in the second half of the game, most likely due to his strong first half. The Patriots' TV broadcast speculated that Chism made the team with his big showing, and they also noted that he was receiving some attention from a trainer, which will be a storyline to follow going forward. Head coach Mike Vrabel and vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf both prioritized speaking favorably about Chism during their respective television interviews, which is another good sign as he competes for a roster spot. It's also worth noting that Chism attended Eastern Washington, which is the same school where Cooper Kupp played. Chism broke many of Kupp's records with the Eagles program, and now he looks to make an impact at the NFL level.