Jonas

Mouton

Spikes’ three-year contract was “essentially a one-year guarantee,” according to the Union-Trib. He’s due $2.875 million in 2012 after turning 35 in December. Last year’s second-rounder, Jonas Mouton, is healthy after missing his rookie season with a shoulder injury.

Mouton’s shoulder wasn’t believed to be seriously damaged when he injured it during preseason play, but he was moved to I.R. in mid-September when it failed to show improvement. The No. 61 overall pick in the 2011 draft could push Takeo Spikes for the starting job opposite Donald Butler.

Mouton lost his entire rookie season to a shoulder injury, and he’s been a healthy scratch all 11 games this year. With Donald Butler (groin) expected to miss Sunday’s game, Mouton will be needed for depth behind Takeo Spikes and Demorrio Williams.

The 61st overall pick in the draft, Mouton wound up playing no snaps in his rookie season. The Chargers still have high hopes that Mouton can emerge into a thumper against the run, but Takeo Spikes may block him for another season or two. San Diego will go forward with Stephen Cooper, Na’il Diggs, and rookie Andrew Gachkar behind starters Spikes and Donald Butler.

Mouton’s progress has been slow since the Chargers took him in the second round of the 2011 draft. The Union-Tribune says he’s “still developing” and expects new GM Tom Telesco to find his 2013 Mike in the draft or free agency.

Te’o (6-foot-1 1/4, 241) racked up triple-digit tackles in each of his final three seasons, playing inside linebacker in Notre Dame’s 3-4. His playmaking in pass coverage reached new heights as a senior with seven interceptions, although six came on tipped balls. Te’o managed a 4.82 forty at the Combine and isn’t an explosive athlete, relying on instincts and “feel” to make plays. He struggles to shed blocks when left unprotected by defensive tackles, which most notably showed up in the BCS title game. In San Diego, Te’o will slot in as an immediate starter adjacent to Donald Butler. The Chargers appear to be giving up on former A.J. Smith second-rounder Jonas Mouton.

A 2011 second-round pick, Mouton missed his rookie season with a shoulder injury and then earned just five snaps last year. His third campaign is over before it starts. Mouton was vying for a backup role behind Donald Butler and Manti Te’o. It’s the second season-ending injury the Chargers’ linebacker corps has suffered in the last three months; Melvin Ingram tore his ACL at minicamps.

The Chargers opened training camp on Thursday. The severity of the injury is not yet known, but it’s not usually a good sign when a cart is involved. Mouton, a 2011 second-round pick, has been a bust to this point, and he needed to prove himself this summer in order to keep his roster spot.

Mouton tore his ACL on the first day of camp last July and had to undergo two separate operations, one for the ACL and the other a procedure that transfers cartilage from one joint to another. Thus the lengthy recovery. Mouton faces an uphill battle for a roster spot. He didn’t show well on special teams in 2012, can’t stay healthy, and is entering the final year of his rookie deal.

After releasing 2009 first-round pick OLB Larry English on Tuesday, the Bolts let go of their 2011 second-rounder in Mouton. They cut him with a failed physical designation. Mouton is coming off a torn ACL and spent two of his three seasons in San Diego on I.R. He should be nearing 100 percent. Mouton doesn’t play special teams and can’t stay healthy, a recipe for career failure.