San Diego Chargers linebacker Dwight Freeney (93) on the field after being injured during the first half against the Dallas Cowboys at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
San Diego Chargers star pass rusher Dwight Freeney has been more than what the Chargers bargained for, as he has been their only consistent source of pressure on the quarterback so far this season. If you can look past the low sack total, you’ll see that Freeney has done an excellent job putting pressure on the quarterback, and that’s far more than I can say for the other pass rushers on the Chargers. Freeney’s injury yesterday looked bad to begin with, and the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that Dwight Freeney tore his quadriceps yesterday, and the Chargers view it as a long-term injury.
Long-term injury is one way of putting it, because this injury could very well bounce the veteran pass rusher for the remainder of the season. Freeney means so much to the Chargers defense, and he’s been their best defensive player so far this season. Obviously the Chargers star defender is Eric Weddle, who is the game’s best safety, but Freeney has been stealing the show through the first four weeks. A severe injury to him would be devastating to the Chargers defense, so we can only hope that either he can come back or the Chargers defense can find somebody else to step up for him.
Beyond that, it’s fair to wonder how this injury will affect Dwight Freeney going forward. He’s 33 years old, and it is possible that this severe quad injury saps out a lot of pass rushing ability from him. Playing as a 3-4 OLB at the age of 33 and effectively rushing the passer is incredibly difficult, so his final year in San Diego could be a rough one if the injury does linger. Freeney might have to play on a snap count next season, which could work out since Melvin Ingram will be back.
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