It’s no surprise that Chargers linebacker Melvin Ingram is starting camp on the physically unable to perform list.
Ingram, the team’s first-round pick in 2012, tore his ACL a couple of days into OTAs in May. The team wasn’t prepared to rule him out for the entire season at that point and placing him on the PUP list allows them to leave the door open for a return, however unlikely that might be. The Chargers signed Dwight Freeney to help shore up the defense after Ingram’s injury.
Safety Brandon Taylor will join Ingram on the PUP list because of his own torn ACL. Taylor suffered the injury last December and had his knee reconstructed in January, so there’s nothing too unusual about his need for a little more time before he’s ready to get back on the field. Taylor was slated to compete with Marcus Gilchrist to start with Eric Weddle at safety, but Gilchrist could wind up taking it by default if Taylor’s knee doesn’t cooperate.
Another member of the Chargers recovering from a torn ACL was able to avoid a trip to the PUP list, at least for the moment. Linebacker D.J. Smith, claimed off waivers from the Packers this offseason and recovering from an October injury, was not placed on the list and is therefore eligible to practice with his teammates in Thursday’s kickoff to training camp.