During the NFL Draft process, the one concern professional scouting folks had about cornerback Jason Verrett was durability. He's a bit undersized, and had already torn a labrum at TCU.
Verrett was lauded for his toughness, ability, work ethic and football IQ. The first half of his rookie season showed off all of those attributes, and then some. Verrett was playing more like a four-year starter than a first-year defensive back. The good thing is, all of those things will stick with Jason for his entire career.
Hopefully, that durability issue is not going to hound him, as well.
Verrett was placed on the season-ending Reserve-Injured list on Saturday with a torn left labrum (not the one he injured in college). Verrett sustained the injury diving for a pass in the second half of the Chargers' win in Oakland on October 12, yet still returned to make a game-saving interception.
Verrett, who also has a partial rotator cuff tear, endured the pain to try and play in San Diego's Thursday Night Football loss in Denver but re-aggravated the injury in the first half. He'll have surgery and not play again until next year.
Without Verrett, the Bolts will rely on cornerbacks Shareece Wright and Brandon Flowers, with undrafted rookie Chris Davis seeing more playing time.
To balance the loss of Verrett, the Chargers got some good news when they reinstated linebacker Melvin Ingram from the Reserve-Injured, Designated For Return list. Ingram, the Bolts' 1st round pick in 2012, was an impact player for the first two games but sustained a hip injury in a Week 2 win over the Seahawks.
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Ingram's return is expected to help the Chargers generate a pass rush that has not had a sack since October 19 against the Chiefs.
The Bolts made two more roster moves on Saturday, adding safety Adrian Phillips to the active roster and releasing linebacker Cordarro Law.
