Chargers cornerback Tevaughn Campbell had a short walk into the end zone on Sunday against the New York Jets, but there was nothing brief or easy about his path to the NFL.
Campbell only needed to waltz 6 yards after he intercepted quarterback Joe Flacco’s pass intended for Jamison Crowder in the first quarter of the Chargers’ 34-28 win at SoFi Stadium.
“It looked easy,” Campbell said, “but it was definitely something we practiced all week. I seen the look in practice, so I kinda anticipated it.”
Campbell, 27, spent four seasons in the Canadian Football League dreaming about making those kinds of plays in the NFL. It was Campbell’s first career interception and touchdown in the NFL – and he did it against his former team.
Campbell joined the Jets in 2019 on a reserve/future contract after leaving the Canadian Football League. But he didn’t play his first NFL regular-season game until Week 3 of this season against the Carolina Panthers.
“I definitely had a dream and that was to get to the NFL,” said Campbell, a native of Scarborough, Canada, near Toronto. “I spent four years in the CFL trying to pursue that dream and thank God I made it here.”
The Chargers signed Campbell to their practice squad after he was released by the Jets last season. He was waived a handful of times by the Chargers before making his debut in Week 3.
Campbell worked his way from practice squad player to backup defensive back to starting slot cornerback for the Chargers this season. He became the starter because the Chargers traded Desmond King to the Tennessee Titans and Chris Harris Jr. is nursing a foot injury while on injured reserve.
But Chargers coach Anthony Lynn said Campbell earned his starting role by improving every week since seeing a surge in snaps in Week 8 against the Denver Broncos. Campbell had a season-high 57 defensive snaps against the Jets.
“This young man is just getting better every single game,” Lynn said. “He hadn’t played a lot of American football, so I like what he’s doing and I like how (defensive backs coach) Ron Milus is developing this young man.
“The more football he plays, the better his football instincts is going to be. And you’re going to see him make more of those plays.”
Campbell became the first Canadian-born defensive player to score a touchdown for the Chargers, according to Elias Sports Bureau. Overall, he was the first Canadian to score a touchdown for the Chargers since wide receiver Ryan Thelwell in 1998.
Campbell is only the second Canadian to play cornerback in an NFL game in the past 50 years, according to the Toronto Sun. The other Canadian cornerback was Davis Sanchez, who played for the Chargers in 2001 and 2002.
Campbell said he hadn’t played slot cornerback in his career before this season. He played college football at the University of Regina in Saskatchewan and was drafted by the Calgary Stampeders in the third round of the 2015 CFL Draft.
“It was definitely different,” Campbell said of playing slot corner. “It was definitely a different position, but we worked on it in training camp. We worked on it all year, so I kinda filled in where I needed to.”
Lynn said Campbell will remain in the defensive backs rotation after Harris returns from injured reserve. Harris is close to returning to the active roster, according to Lynn.
“Chris will play the nickel,” Lynn said Monday, “but Tevaughn will be on the field at some point.”
NWOSU UPDATE
Lynn said pass rusher Uchenna Nwosu went to the hospital after injuring his shoulder in the second quarter against the Jets.
“From what I’ve heard, he’s going to be OK,” Lynn said. “I just don’t know how long it’s going to take to get him back.”
Nwosu has 3.5 sacks, 23 combined tackles and eight quarterback hits this season.
TURNER RECEIVES STITCHES
Right guard Trai Turner left the game in the second half Sunday because he needed stitches after cutting his lip, according to Lynn.
Lynn said Turner will be fine to practice and play this week. Cole Toner replaced Turner after he exited.MISSING EKELER
Lynn didn’t provide a straightforward update on running back Austin Ekeler, but he said Monday he misses the dynamic playmaker.
“That would be nice,” Lynn said about Ekeler possibly returning to practice this week. “We certainly miss him, but whenever he’s ready, he’ll be ready.”
Ekeler went on injured reserve after injuring his hamstring in Week 4 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
"six" - Google News
November 24, 2020 at 08:38AM
https://ift.tt/2HtwgeG
Chargers’ Tevaughn Campbell makes Canadian history with pick-six - Long Beach Press Telegram
"six" - Google News
https://ift.tt/3dcBbL9
https://ift.tt/2Wis8la
No comments:
Post a Comment