Caleb Sturgis Favored to Win the LA Chargers’ Open Kicking Competition

• After a poor kicking game cost the Chargers points and wins in 2017, two new candidates have been signed
• Can Caleb Sturgis regain a starting job after being injured in 2017?
• Will Roberto Aguayo win the job after being cut on Hard Knocks and failing to play in a competitive game all of last year?
  

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Four players attempted field goals from the kicking position for the Chargers in 2017. And guess what? None of them are back for 2018. That alone explains a lot about the state of the team’s kicking game last year and why there are odds on who will claim the job this year come Week 1.

And the candidates are…two guys who didn’t play last year. Well, technically Caleb Sturgus did play, but in only one game for Philadelphia. While Roberto Aguayo hasn’t played since his time in Tampa Bay in 2016.

Chargers’ Starting Kicker Week 1 Odds

The Chargers’ comical kicking woes saw punter Drew Kaser forced to attempt three extra points and pre-season cut Josh Lambo come back to haunt them with a game-winning kick in overtime as a member of the Jaguars in Week 10. All told, the Chargers’ four kickers combined for a league-low 66.7% in field goal completion.

Sturgis

Sturgis is the veteran in this competition entering his sixth season in 2018. A left hip flexor tear in the season opener last year saw him miss the rest of the season though. He spent two years prior to this with the Eagles, as well as time with the Dolphins during his first two years in the league. Sturgis was signed as a free agent this offseason to a two-year $4.45 million contract.

Since entering the league in 2013, Sturgis improved his field goal percentage each year of his career. In 2013 he owned a 76.6 completion percentage and raised that to 85.4% in 2016. In his one game last year he went 3/3.

We got a kicker ?

Welcome, @CalebSturgis1! pic.twitter.com/eDFMxdBza5

— Los Angeles Chargers (@Chargers) March 16, 2018

Chargers’ Kickers Career Stats

Aguayo

Aguayo, a second round pick of the Bucs in 2016 lasted one season in Tampa before being labelled a bust and being released. He completed only 71% of his field goals and attempted only one from 50 yards or more (which he missed). The Bucs were likely hesitant to try too many long kicks given that his mid-range kicks from 40-49 yards weren’t much better at only 4/10.

The 24-year-old was signed to a two-year $1.2 million reserve/future contract at the end of last season. Never making it off the practice squads of the Bears and Panthers last year, Aguayo will be looking to revive his career in 2018.

The kicking job is very much open!
@Chargers Caleb Sturgis badly missing a 41-yarder could give Roberto Aguayo a “leg up” –
He’s looked better in n camp#abc7eyewitness pic.twitter.com/ShqnIGtxEg

— Curt Sandoval (@abc7curt) August 12, 2018

Preseason Week 1: LA 17 at Arizona 24

As the graphic above mentions Sturgis was the man taking kicks in Preseason Week 1 for the Chargers. He missed a 41-yarder but hit a 45-yarder in going 1-for-2 in a 24-17 loss to Arizona. Though he didn’t attempt any field goals, Aguayo did take part in kicking extra points and went 2/2.

Many have annointed Sturgis the starter, but reports out of camp say Aguayo has looked better. During their kicking competitions it was reported by ESPN that Aguayo was 19-for-22, while Sturgis went 14-for-21.

Pick

It’s quite possible Head Coach Anthony Lynn rotates who takes field goals throughout the preseason and we see more of Aguayo going forward.

#Chargers release their first unofficial depth chart …

Cardale Jones and Geno Smith are listed as co-backups behind Philip Rivers
Derwin James is listed as the backup safety behind Rayshawn Jenkins
Caleb Sturgis is listed as the kicker ahead of Roberto Aguayo pic.twitter.com/u2Mew8ciNh

— Jack Wang (@thejackwang) August 7, 2018

However, Sturgis is the veteran, only lost his job last year due to injury, signed a much larger contract and at least as of now, is listed number one on the Chargers’ unofficial depth chart.

Caleb Sturgis (-160)