Chargers Training Camp is on the horizon, as the Bolts will soon return to work to get ready for the 2022 season. The Chargers will host 10 open practices as they welcome fans back to Jack Hammett Sports Complex in Costa Mesa.
What's in store for the Bolts in camp? Second-year Head Coach Brandon Staley leads a roster focused on physicality that added numerous new faces this offseason, and the Bolts will use the coming weeks to sort out position battles and enhance their skills.
Chargers.com will take a glance at each position group leading up to training camp, continuing with the tight ends.
Who's on the roster?
Gerald Everett (6th NFL season; 1st with Chargers), Donald Parham, Jr. (3; 3), Tre' McKitty (2; 2), Hunter Kampmoyer (2; 2), Erik Krommenhoek (1: 1) and Stone Smartt (1: 1).
Camp outlook
There's a fresh veteran face leading this group, as Everett was signed as a free agent in the offseason to bolster the Bolts tight end room.
The six-year veteran isn't new to Southern California, as he spent the first four seasons of his career with the Rams, but should be a welcome addition after setting career highs in catches, yards and touchdowns a year ago with the Seahawks.
There is some talent and depth behind Everett, too, as Parham and McKitty have experience with this offensive system. Parham has tallied six touchdown catches in his first two seasons, and McKitty could be in line to take a step forward after his rookie season saw him play 237 offensive snaps.
Kampmoyer also returns after his rookie season in which he played in one game after spending most of the season on the practice squad.
The remaining pair of tight ends on the roster — Krommenhoek and Smartt — are rookies who were added as undrafted free agents. Krommenhoek played up the road at Southern Cal, while Smartt starred at Old Dominion in college.
Quick quote
"It's a fun group of guys. Everybody is talented. It's very competitive in there. We all like to have a lot of fun. We take it day-by-day, making sure that we're taking the right steps for practice and making sure that we're doing everything that we can to help this team." — Parham on his position group.
One big question… In what area can Gerald Everett improve the position?
Everett, who was with Seattle last season, had 48 receptions, the same total that Jared Cook had with the Chargers last season. While Cook's average yards per target were 2 yards better, Everett generated more yards after the catch, which hopefully translates into more large gains. The other hope is that Everett and Justin Herbert can build a quick and consistent rapport with each other. While production among the group exceeded expectations, which was largely unknown after Hunter Henry left via free agency, there were two notable instances late last season when players weren't on the same page and it led to Pick Sixes. — (By Joe Reedy of The Associated Press).
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