Every year there are players who get glowing coverage early in preseason, creating interest in seeing them back up the hype in preseason games.
This year, one of those players has been Eddie Royal. Royal’s work in the slot has generated a lot of positive buzz at Chargers camp, but it will be a while before we get to see him in game action.
Royal has a groin injury that Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports is expected to keep him out for the next week or two. If that proves to be accurate, Royal will miss the team’s first preseason game on August 9 against the Packers. That time frame shouldn’t threaten Royal’s readiness for the regular season and he could be well enough to see some action in the second game against the Cowboys on August 18.
With Malcolm Floyd, Antonio Gates and Robert Meachem, who had his own injury scare this week, the Chargers have plenty of other options in the passing game, but no one who profiles to the same kind of fit for the slot position as Royal. If he makes good on all the advance reports, Royal could help the Chargers passing game take on a new look now that Vincent Jackson is no longer on the outside.