The Los Angeles Chargers could use some more explosiveness on special teams heading into the regular season.
It might only be the exhibition slate, but recently acquired running back Troymaine Pope provided that against the New Orleans Saints Sunday afternoon.
With Los Angeles up 10-3 late in the second quarter, Pope took a punt at his own 19-yard line and returned it 81 yards for a touchdown.
The speed was real on this one. Pope broke through multiple holes before taking it the distance for the score. On a related note, New Orleans’ coverage on the punt was definitely preseason-worthy. Just atrocious.
Pope, 25, spent time with four other teams since going undrafted from Jacksonville State back in 2016. Could he potentially latch on as a reserve running back and special teams standout in Southern California with Pro Bowler Melvin Gordon holding out? Plays like this will help him out in that regard.