Through seven games, the San Diego Chargers have accumulated just three punt return yards. While Travis Benjamin of the Cleveland Browns leads the NFL with 254 punt return yardage, Keenan Allen has managed just 5 yards and Jacoby Jones is at -2.
The Chargers are exceptionally bad at returning punts
Three punt return yards through seven games is the worst total since 1972.
Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
The team's 3 yards are the lowest mark through seven games since the New England Patriots were stuck at -2 yards in 1972. The Patriots finished that year 3-11, but a 27-yard return by Carl Garrett managed to drag the team up to 37 yards for the season.
An obvious factor in the lack of production for the Chargers is the fact that no team has attempted to return fewer punts. The Chargers have just seven returns all season and didn't attempt to return any of the four punts from Marquette King of the Oakland Raiders in a 37-29 loss on Sunday.
But it's not as though opportunities have been nonexistent. The Chargers defense has forced 32 punts, which is No. 7 in the NFL, and 12 of those were fair caught. Only the Indianapolis Colts have called for fair catch more often and even with just seven returns, 0.4 yards per return is the worst average in the NFL. The Dallas Cowboys are second-worst with a 3.5 yards per punt return average and 35 total yards on 10 returns.
Jones was signed by the Chargers to a two-year, $5.5 million contract to boost a return unit that finished No. 28 in kick return and No. 29 in punt return yards. While the Chargers are up to No. 21 in kickoff return average, the average drive for San Diego begins on its own 21.2, which is the league’s worst average field position. Jones made some crucial errors in Week 7, including returning a ball from the back of the end zone to the 11-yard line.
Mike McCoy stands by Jacoby Jones as Chargers' returner. Will remain in role. Trusts Jones' judgment on when to return out of end zone.
— Michael Gehlken (@UTgehlken) October 26, 2015 Allen filled in on return duties when Jones went down with an ankle injury in Week 1 that kept him out until Week 5. He made a Pro Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens in 2012 as a kick returner and returned four kickoffs for touchdowns in three seasons with the team. In the eight seasons before signing with the Chargers, Jones averaged 10.1 yards per punt return.
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