How Is a Two-Time Super Bowl Champion Strengthening the LA Chargers Special Teams?
On October 21st, long snapper Rick Lovato joined the Los Angeles Chargers' active 53-man roster midseason. Earlier this year, over the summer, he was on the practice squad. Lovato is now a part of the Chargers' special teams, which includes kicker Cameron Dicker and punter J.K. Scott. The 33-year-old veteran is notoriously known for his history playing for the Philadelphia Eagles. He was signed to the Chargers this year due to his veteran stability in his position, as Josh Harris, who was signed in 2022, is out for the season due to an injury he sustained during the preseason.
This year will mark Lovato’s tenth season in the NFL. He brings nearly a decade of experience to Los Angeles, as he played for Philadelphia from 2017 to 2024—he did not miss a single game. The 33-year-old is a seasoned player, a two-time Super Bowl champion, and earned Pro Bowl honors in 2019. Over his career, he has played a total of 163 regular-season games. Lovato played in Super Bowl LII and Super Bowl LIX for the Eagles and is one of four players who have been recently rostered for both recent title runs. This list includes Brandon Graham, Lane Johnson, Jake Elliott, and Lovato.
Although he did not play in Week Nine against the Tennessee Titans, he brings a strong force to the Chargers' special teams as they aim to make the playoffs this year. Against the Titans in Week Nine, the Chargers left Nashville with a 27-20 victory at the Titans' home stadium. Starting quarterback Justin Herbert, who was signed to the Chargers five years ago in 2020, has received a ton of credit for his quick composure and his playmaking abilities as he leads the squad. On the attacking side, Herbert threw for over 250 yards and had two touchdowns. Additionally, he had overcome an early pick-six from the Titans and had accumulated over 57 rushing yards.
Rick Lovato coming back to an NFL team means more than just having extra players: it’s about being reliable for every punt and snap when it counts. He’s a two-time Super Bowl champion and has played in over 163 games in a row, which demonstrates that the Chargers really value experience and safety in a key position. The Chargers are 6-3 and are ranked second in the AFC West. In all power rankings, the Chargers are ranked in twelfth place out of all teams this NFL season. As they head into a challenging part of the season, Lovato’s leadership and perfect skills might be exactly what Los Angeles needs to keep their momentum going and secure their chances for the playoffs.
