Source: Chargers’ Gordon plans to report Thurs.
Chargers running back Melvin Gordon told the team he plans to end his holdout and report on Thursday, sources confirmed to…
Running back Melvin Gordon contacted the Los Angeles Chargers and told them he plans to report on Thursday, ending his 64-day holdout, sources confirmed to ESPN.
The Cleveland Plain Dealer was first to report that Gordon was ending his holdout.
A source tells ESPN’s Josina Anderson that Gordon expects 2019 will be his final year with the Chargers.
Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn said that if Gordon does report this week, he will not play in his team’s Week 4 road contest against the winless Miami Dolphins.
The Chargers will likely apply for a two-week roster exemption, giving the team time to evaluate when the workhorse running back is in shape and ready to play
“I don’t think you just walk in camp and just play right away without going through any practice,” Lynn told reporters on Wednesday. “You can run and do all the drills you want but it’s hard to simulate real football.”
Gordon and his representation also have to resolve how they will handle the monetary fines that have piled up during his absence.
According to the league’s collective bargaining agreement, Gordon can be fined up to $30,000 a day and his nearly $330,000 a game check for preseason and regular season games that he’s missed — a total that could reach $2.5 million.
According to a source, the Chargers will seek to collect that money.
The Chargers were No. 13 in the NFL in rushing through the first three games without Gordon, averaging 112 rushing yards a contest.
Starting in place of Gordon, Austin Ekeler totaled 160 rushing yards and four total touchdowns.
Gordon is scheduled to make $5.605 million the final season of his rookie deal. Chargers general manager Tom Telesco announced just before the start of the regular season that the team postponed negotiations with Gordon until the end of the season and if Gordon chose to report he would play under his current contract.
Gordon desires a contract extension that will compensate him among the top running backs in the league like Todd Gurley II, David Johnson and Le’Veon Bell, who earn an average of $13 to $14 million annually. The Chargers had offered Gordon a new contract that would’ve doubled his salary at roughly $10 million annually.