Bradley

Bozeman

Bozeman started his career as a sixth-round pick with the Ravens back in 2018 and also spent time with the Panthers and Chargers. The eight-year vet started 110 of the 129 games he appeared in during his career, and started all 156 games at center for the Chargers last season.

Vidal injured his neck in Week 16 and was unable to play in Week 17. He practiced throughout Week 18, including two full sessions to close the week. Forecasting Vidal’s role is difficult, with the Chargers declaring QB Justin Herbert, S Derwin James Jr., RB Omarion Hampton (ankle), S Elijah Molden (hamstring), OLB Tuli Tuipulotu, OT Jamaree Salyer (hamstring) and C Bradley Bozeman (concussion) inactive for Week 18 against the Broncos. The team is clearly trying to preserve its health for the postseason and Vidal has meaningfully contributed to the offense this season. While we tentatively expect him to start, RB Hassan Haskins (concussion) and RB Jaret Patterson could also be regularly involved. Patterson is the backfield’s lone fully healthy player.

Neither Becton nor TE Will Dissly practiced all week. Dissly is sidelined by a knee injury, as is backup WR Derius Davis. C Bradley Bozeman was a limited participant on Thursday and Friday, nursing a back injury. Chargers RT Trey Pipkins III successfully rehabbed his knee injury to the point that he was able to practice in full over the last two days. If Pipkins can go, the Chargers have decent odds of holding their own against the Giants’ pass rush.

The Chargers’ center-to-right tackle trio exited Week 3 in rough shape. The group’s overall health is improving, though. C Bradley Bozeman (back) returned to practice in a limited capacity on Thursday and RT Trey Pipkins III (knee) was upgraded to full participation. Becton evidently has not made progress in the NFL’s concussion protocol. He may miss the Chargers’ Week 4 game against the Giants, but the other two should be good to go.

In addition to Becton, center Bradley Bozeman (back) also did not practice Wednesday. The Chargers’ interior offensive line is banged up to start the week and will have a couple days to return to practice ahead of a Week 4 showdown against the Broncos. Should Bozeman and Becton miss time, Omarion Hampton will have a tough time finding running lanes against the Denver defensive line.

Terms have not yet been disclosed. A former Panther who signed up with Jim Harbaugh last spring, Bozeman remained replacement-level last season, but he almost never misses a snap. That’s a valuable commodity along the rugged interior of an offensive line. 2025 will be Bozeman’s age-31 campaign. This contract is not necessarily so big that we’d put it in pen that Bozeman will start for the Chargers this year.

Bozeman started all 17 games for the Panthers last season but was released earlier this month despite signing a three-year, $18 million contract extension last offseason. A former sixth-round pick by the Ravens in 2018, Bozeman has carved out a solid NFL career through his first six years in the league and now gets to team up another Harbaugh in Los Angeles. He earned a PFF blocking grade of 62.2 last year and was credited with allowing a career-high eight sacks on 32 pressures — also a career-high. The singing of Bozeman suggests Corey Linsley, who has been rumored to be on the verge of retiring, may be walking away from the game in the near future. The Chargers restructured Linsley’s contract earlier this offseason when they lowered his $11.5 million base salary for 2024 to the veteran minimum.

Bozeman signed a three-year deal with the Panthers last offseason, playing and starting in all 17 games for the 2023 season. Prior to joining Carolina in 2022, Bozeman played four seasons on the Ravens’ offensive line, starting the majority of games he played. He was the Panthers’ Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee and now the center market adds a starter for free agency. The Panthers will choose to go in a different direction and clear up some cap space with a new coaching staff coming in to develop QB Bryce Young.

Among the NFL’s best pass blocking centers, Bozeman will return to Carolina for a second season after beginning his career with four seasons in Baltimore. He performed well on a prove-it deal in 2022 and will be a foundational piece on the Panthers offensive line for the next few years at least. Pro Football Focus graded the Panthers offensive line as the tenth best pass-blocking unit in the NFL last season.

Bozeman finished 2022 as one of the league’s top centers, posting a 96% pass-block win rate in 11 starts. With Pat Elflein ($7 million) an expected cut, the Panthers plan to re-sign Bozeman. After playing on a $2.8 million salary last season, Bozeman could land $10 million per year from the Panthers this offseason.