Before Patriots Game, Chargers Make Unusual Move

Los Angeles signs a kicker, just for kickoffs

By Newser Editors, Newser Staff

Posted Jan 10, 2019 1:30 PM CST

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Chargers Make Unusual Move Before Patriots Game — Los Angeles Chargers kicker Michael Badgley kicks an extra point against the Baltimore Ravens on Dec. 22, 2018. (John Cordes/AP Images for Panini)

The Chargers are underdogs in this Sunday's playoff game against the Patriots, and they just made an unusual move to gain an edge—they signed a second kicker. Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that Los Angeles signed Nick Rose for the express purpose of handling kickoffs. The reason? The Patriots have a dynamite kick returner in Cordarrelle Patterson, and the Chargers don't want him to touch the ball, explains USA Today. The problem is regular kicker Michael Badgley doesn't have a great track record when it comes to kicking deep enough to force touchbacks. Rose was waived by the Texans in September 2018, but he kicked for the Chargers and a few other teams before that. (This Bears kicker was vilified after a big miss, but it may not have been fair.)