#52 Carlos Polk | LB
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Position: LB College: Nebraska Height: 6-2 Weight: 262 Age: 31 Experience: 8th NFL Season Acquired: Draft 4 - 2001 Hometown: Rockford, Illinois |
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Career StatsCarlos Polk was having another strong season in 2007 when misfortune struck again for a guy who just can’t seem to catch a break. In a Week 11 win over the Baltimore Ravens, Polk injured his shoulder while doing what he does best: making a special teams tackle. At the time, he was the Bolts’ leader in special teams tackles with 12, but the injury ended his season and Polk finished the 2007 campaign on “Reserved-Injured” for the third time in four seasons.
Polk is healthy and once again ready to make a run at it in 2008. Prior to last season’s injury, his play over the span of a two-year period was as inspirational as any player in the NFL. After missing the entire 2005 season and all but one game of the 2004 season due to Achilles and shoulder injuries, Polk in all 16 games and saw the most significant action of his career on both defense and special teams in 2006. Playing on a one-year contract, Polk set career highs with 32 tackles and two sacks on defense to go along with 19 stops on the specialty units. His special teams tackle total was second on the team to Clinton Hart’s 22. When it was all said and done, his teammates recognized this Herculean effort by selecting Carlos as the team’s recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award.
Last fall, he started two games at inside linebacker in place of an injured Matt Wilhelm and was his usual self in the kicking game. In a Week 5 win at Denver, Polk laid a huge hit on Broncos return man Brian Clark that forced a fumble. Teammate Brandon Siler scooped up the loose ball and ran to the end zone to give the Bolts an early 14-0 lead in a game that allowed the Chargers to snap a three-game losing streak. At the end of the season, Polk’s teammates voted him and Philip Rivers as co-recipients of the team’s Most Inspirational Player Award.
Polk considers his father, John Moore, his biggest influence. A construction worker by trade, Moore commuted to and from Chicago for work, leaving the house at 4 a.m. and often times returning home after 9 p.m. It is from his father that Polk inherited his tireless work ethic and family values.
Carlos and his father enjoy working on classic cars. Carlos’ first car was a Pontiac Firebird that he and his dad spent weekends restoring before Carlos was old enough to drive. Over the years, the two have also restored a 1947 Ford Coupe and a 1949 Plymouth.
TRANSACTION HISTORY: Fourth-round pick (112) by Chargers, April 22, 2001…signed with Chargers, June 20, 2001…re-signed with Chargers, April 23, 2004…re-signed with Chargers, March 17, 2005…signed one-year contract with Chargers, Jan. 30, 2006.
2007: Shared team’s Most Inspirational Player Award with Philip Rivers…paced team with two special teams tackles in Week 1 win vs. Chicago…started Week 3 game against Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field and Week 4 game against Kansas City at inside linebacker for injured Matt Wilhelm…finished Packers game with five tackles, but made even bigger impact in kicking game with three stops on special teams, tying Antonio Cromartie for team high…led team with 11 tackles in Week 4 against Kansas City and for second-consecutive week, broke up pass on first defensive play of game…named Special Teams Player of Week by Sports Illustrated.com’s Peter King and earned Game Ball from Head Coach Norv Turner after delivering huge special teams tackle and forced fumble that resulted in touchdown midway through first quarter of Chargers’ 41-3 win at Denver, Oct. 7…on kickoff after Chargers had scored touchdown to take 7-0 lead, Polk belted Broncos return man Brian Clark, forcing fumble on hit…after ball bounced in and out of hands of Michael Turner, rookie linebacker Brandon Siler plucked it out of mid-air and returned it 23 yards for touchdown and 14-0 lead for Chargers…it was Polk’s first-career special teams forced fumble…combined with Marques Harris to record four-yard tackle for loss on botched fake punt Week 6 vs. Oakland…forced fumble by Minnesota’s Chester Taylor at Chargers’ three-yard line Nov. 4 which was recovered by Marlon McCree to prevent touchdown…collected four-yard sack and led team with two special teams tackles Nov. 11 on NBC Sunday Night Football game vs. Indianapolis…placed on “Reserve-Injured” Nov. 21 with left shoulder injury sustained in Nov. 18 game at Jacksonville.2006: Recipient of Ed Block Courage Award for displaying commitment to principles of courage and sportsmanship while serving as inspiration inside locker room...came back after missing most of last two seasons with injury and played Weeks 1-16 and in AFC playoffs, primarily on special teams...racked up career-high four special teams stops to lead team in Sept. 11 season opener at Oakland...racked up then-career-high five tackles as reserve linebacker against Tennessee Week 2...spelled injured Shaun Phillips Week 6 at Kansas City, collecting three tackles...started first career game in place of Phillips Oct. 29 vs. St. Louis...tied for team high with two special teams tackles against Cleveland Nov. 5...started Nov. 12 at Cincinnati, collecting sack and tackle for loss among five stops...also tied team-high with two stops on special teams...dropped Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer for four-yard loss in second quarter...started Week 10 on Sunday Night Football at Denver and led linebacking corps with two QB pressures...also started Week 11 vs. Oakland and racked up season-high six tackles...collected one-yard sack against Trent Green late in second quarter and paced squad with two stops on special teams Dec. 17 vs. Kansas City...also made very good special teams play against Chiefs, downing Mike Scifres punt at four-yard line in first quarter...led team with three special teams stops at Seattle Dec. 24 and with two against Arizona Dec. 31.
2005: Spent entire season on “Reserve-Injured” list while recovering from torn Achilles’ tendon.
2004: Inactive Week 1 with shoulder injury…returned to action Sept. 19 against New York Jets and had special teams tackle…placed on “Reserve-Injured” list Sept. 22 due to shoulder injury.
2003: Chargers Co-Special Teams Player of Year…tied for team lead with 16 special teams tackles…tackle for loss among two stops against Denver Sept. 14…season-high three special teams stops at Jacksonville Oct. 5…lone tackle for loss against Kansas City Nov. 30.
2002: Chargers Special Teams Player of Year…led squad with 13 stops on specialty units…recorded first-career safety after blocking Scott Player punt out of end zone at Arizona Sept. 22…was first-career blocked kick…inactive for San Francisco game Nov. 17 with ankle injury…season-high three special teams tackles at Buffalo Dec. 15.
2001: Limited to action in six games due to shoulder injury…placed on “Reserve-Injured” list Nov. 14.
COLLEGE: First-team All-America by Associated Press, American Football Coaches Association and College Football News…first team All-Big 12 as junior…Big 12 Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll as sophomore…played at Nebraska from 1996-2000…holds degree in sociology.
PERSONAL: Born Feb. 22, 1977 in Memphis, Tennessee…USA Today All-America at Guilford High School in Rockford, Illinois…all-state and all-conference pick…Northern Illinois Conference-9 Defensive Player of Year…lettered in basketball…has son DeVonn and daughter Deja.
