Welcome to Part 8 of our 2022 positional recaps, a series that will run through the next few weeks and highlight all 10 Chargers position groups. We'll focus on key stats, big moments and look ahead to the 2023 season.
The Bolts cornerback unit was among the team's more consistent positions in 2022, even as the group battled through injuries.
J.C. Jackson was a prized free-agent addition who looked superb in training camp, but August ankle surgery derailed the start of his season.
Jackson showed flashes through five games in powder blue, but his season came to an early end in Week 7 with a torn patella tendon in his knee.
Michael Davis filled in admirably in Jackson's place and was one of the league's best cornerbacks in the second half of the season.
"I don't like to single out players, but I couldn't be more proud of a player and how he played this year, from the start of OTAs to now, and how he handled this situation," said Chargers General Manager Tom Telesco.
"He got his opportunity this year and he just played lights out for us. Without how we played, I don't know if we would have had 10 wins this year," Telesco later added. "He's just so competitive on the football. He is just a rock-solid player for us. I am really proud of how he handled the whole offseason, the regular season."
Second-year cornerback Asante Samuel, Jr., led the position group with 15 starts. He displayed plenty of promise, including in the postseason, and should only get better in the coming years.
Veteran Bryce Callahan manned the slot after joining the Bolts as a free agent and played well. He provided consistency on the field and leadership off it, helping youngsters such as rookie Ja'Sir Taylor, who started three games in the second half of the year.
Taylor spoke about his growth after the season.
"I feel like in this league, you need to be up there to really get your feet underneath you and play, see how it feels," Taylor said. "When I'm on special teams, it's a little bit different than going out there on defense.
"It's a whole different beast, but getting all those reps and most importantly, having the veterans in my room right there next to me, guiding me each step of the way," Taylor added. "Lot of credit to those guys."
Fellow rookie Deane Leonard played a handful of defensive snaps in 2022 but was a key contributor on special teams.
Take a look at the best photos from the Chargers 2022 campaign through the lens of team photographer, Mike Nowak, manager of photography, Ty Nowell, seasonal photographer, Mackenzie Hudson, and gameday photographer, Noel Vasquez.
WELCOME TO WEEK 1 - After not playing all preseason, here's a very fired up Keenan Allen celebrating with fans after a big catch in Week 1 vs. the Las Vegas Raiders. This overhead angle, taken from Level 6, really gives you perspective as a fan in the stands. - Noel Vasquez/Los Angeles Chargers
FOR THE WIN - The Raiders had a chance to take the lead toward the end of the game, but a familiar face, Khalil Mack, forced a fumble on QB Derek Carr on fourth down to ice the win for his home team. Mack finished with 3.0 sacks that game, and his teammate, Drue Tranquill was doing his best Notre Dame 'Touchdown Jesus' pose after the play. - Mike Nowak/Los Angeles Chargers
NEW ERA, SAME MIKE - Week 2 featured the Chargers vs. Chiefs on the first-ever Thursday Night Football game on Prime Video. One thing that wasn't new? Mike Williams' crazy one-handed catches. Just look at the concentration on his face to steadily corral the ball and get his body inbounds. This touchdown reception set the record for the most-ever by a visiting player at Arrowhead Stadium. - Mike Nowak/Los Angeles Chargers
10 GETS BACK TO .500 - Here's Justin Herbert walking off with a win in Week 4 over the Houston Texans which got the team back to 2-2. The contrast here shows the fans peeking over the railing to get a glimpse of the Bolts' QB, but before he heads off into the dark tunnel, he acknowledges their presence and reciprocates the greeting. - Mike Nowak/Los Angeles Chargers
GRIT - Here's a field-level shot of Derwin James single-handedly taking down Browns RB Nick Chubb. Both players are esteemed at their respective positions so naturally, the field dirt stands no chance when they combine forces. You get a clear view of just how much dirt gets kicked up on this tackle. - Mike Nowak/Los Angeles Chargers
A SIGHT OF SOFI STADIUM - This remote camera was perched to give the high-angle effect of a full view of SoFi Stadium during pregame introductions. Notice the bolt overhang in the foreground which frames the shot nicely. On the field, you can see TE Gerald Everett running onto the field before the Week 6 MNF game vs. the Denver Broncos. Look up, and you'll see the forward facing shot on the Infinity Screen. - Mike Nowak/Los Angeles Chargers
THE ROOKIE STEPS UP - Another shot from the same Week 6 Monday Night Football game that went into overtime. What was a tough, hard-fought battle all game was finally cracked open with just under five minutes remaining after Ja'Sir Taylor made a heads up special teams play to force a muffed punt. Another rookie, Deane Leonard, recovered the ball to give possession back to the Chargers offense to set up a game-winning drive. - Mike Nowak/Los Angeles Chargers
HEROIC HOPKINS - Here's a close up view of kicker Dustin Hopkins' game-winning field goal in Week 6. Hopkins injured his hamstring mid-game and at one point was deemed questionable to return. He went 4-for-4 on field goals, including this game winner. Check out the pain in his face as he boots this through the uprights. - Mackenzie Hudson/Los Angeles Chargers
VIEWS - The navy uniforms add a different color-element when the team dons them once a season and paired with this gold facemask, you can see the contrast. You can also see a reflection of SoFi Stadium on the visor as the team got ready for the Week 7 game vs. Seattle. - Ty Nowell/Los Angeles Chargers
DICKER RISES UP - The Bolts are no strangers to changes at kicker and Cameron Dicker was the team's third of the season. Here he is being carried off the field by Derwin James and Amen Ogbongbemiga after nailing a 37-yard field goal to get the win over the Atlanta Falcons in Week 9. - Mike Nowak/Los Angeles Chargers
REFLECTION - With no Mike Williams and no Keenan Allen, wide receiver DeAndre Carter was tasked with stepping up in a big way in Week 10. Here he is taking a moment for himself before the Sunday Night Football matchup against the San Francisco 49ers, centered in solitude surrounded by a crowded stadium. He went on to lead the receivers with four catches for 64 yards and a touchdown he scored on the team's first drive. - Ty Nowell/Los Angeles Chargers
DERWIN GOES UP! - Derwin James' athletic prowess was on display in Week 12 after he snatched this pass intended for DeAndre Hopkins. You can't help but notice how Derwin's uniform stands out against the Cardinals' red sideline. - Mike Nowak/Los Angeles Chargers
TWO SIDES TO EVERY PLAY - Here's the aftermath of Austin Ekeler scoring a touchdown with 15 seconds remaining in regulation in Week 12. Pair Ekeler's enthusiasm with Isaiah Simmons' despair and it's a reminder how every play tells two stories. The Bolts successfully made a two-point conversion after this TD to improve to 6-5 and get the team back on track. - Ty Nowell/Los Angeles Chargers
TOE TAPPIN' - As good as Mike Williams' catches are, so too is his ability to always get his feet inbounds to complete the play. Here's another example on a touchdown in Week 14 vs. the Dolphins. No. 81 came alive that night catching all six passes thrown his way for 116 yards and a score, helping his team get the W in primetime and start their push for the postseason. - Ty Nowell/Los Angeles Chargers
FULLY LOADED FIRST DOWN - Through his three years in the league, Justin Herbert has kept it pretty cool, calm, and collected on the field. That changed for a moment in Week 14 when the QB ran for a first down on 3rd-and-8 with just over five minutes to play. He then stood up and gave the definitive first down motion. The play made Chargers fans harken back to when Philip Rivers did a similar celebration in the playoffs against the Baltimore Ravens showing even QBs can get in on the fun every once in a while. - Noel Vasquez/Los Angeles Chargers
A SPIKE to 7 WINS - After the 23-17 victory over Miami, Herbert was given a game ball by the Sunday Night Football crew. Here's a peek into the locker room as No. 10 emphatically spiked the ball in celebration of the victory and gave us another glimpse at the emotions that come with wins, especially, wins that mean more in mid-December. - Mike Nowak/Los Angeles Chargers
SMOKE & SHADOWS - The tunnel is always a great place to shoot given the fact that we add a lot of different elements for pregame introductions. Here we have Mike Williams, in the royal blue uniform, standing in front of the fan with smoke permeating throughout the shot. The colors contrast well despite this being an afternoon game. - Mike Nowak/Los Angeles Chargers
WHO ELSE? MIKE WILLIAMS - The Week 15 Titans game was another hard-fought battle. After Tennessee tied the game with :48 seconds remaining, Justin Herbert, on the run, connected with Mike Williams - of course - for a gain of 35. Here's No. 81 in the process of going to the ground towards the end of the play. He's merely levitating above the field turf at SoFi Stadium. Three plays later, Cameron Dicker kicked the Bolts to another win and an 8-6 record. - Ty Nowell/Los Angeles Chargers
A CLINCH FOR CHRISTMAS - After being 6-6 at one point during the season, the Chargers rallied and had an opportunity to clinch a postseason berth in Week 16 vs. the Colts. Clinched they did after a dominating 20-3 performance. The game came a day after Christmas giving the team the best gift they could ask for. - Ty Nowell/Los Angeles Chargers
LOV3 FOR DAMAR - Week 18 was a reminder that life is bigger than football after what happened to Buffalo's Damar Hamlin the previous Monday night. After kickoff, Derwin James and Russell Wilson, two players and team captains who don No. 3, the same number Hamlin wears, met in the middle of the field to express support and love for the Bills safety. - Mike Nowak/Los Angeles Chargers
PALMER GOES A MILE HIGH - Just look at the hops from Joshua Palmer as he hauled in a two-point conversion in Week 18's game vs. the Broncos. We see guys leap up all the time, but it's always amazing when you see how a photo can capture just how high up they get in the moment. - Ty Nowell/Los Angeles Chargers
WELCOME TO THE WILD CARD - The Chargers were back in the playoffs for the first time since 2018 as they went to Jacksonville to take on the Jaguars. Here's the pregame setup as Sebastian Joseph-Day's hands mimic the fireworks on display. - Ty Nowell/Los Angeles Chargers
Notable Number
From Weeks 12-18, Davis ranked first among outside cornerbacks with a Pro Football Focus coverage grade of 84.0 (minimum of 200 snaps).
Memorable Moment
Entering Week 14, the Dolphins boasted one of the league's top aerial attacks.
The Chargers secondary, particularly the cornerbacks, put the clamps down on Miami's passing game.
Davis, Samuel and Taylor got the starts at cornerback — Callahan was out with an injury — and the trio all played at least 90-percent of the defensive snaps.
The end result?
Miami had just one explosive passing play as the Dolphins completed just four passes through three quarters. The defensive effort jumpstarted a four-game game win streak that boosted the Bolts into the playoffs.
Regular-Season Statistics
Asante Samuel, Jr.
Recorded 57 total tackles, one tackle for loss, 11 passes defended, one fumble recovery and two interceptions; appeared in all 17 games (15 starts) and played 972 defensive snaps (92.84 percent).
Michael Davis
Recorded 62 total tackles, two tackles for loss, one QB hit, 1.0 sack and 15 passes defended; appeared in all 17 games (12 starts) and played 791 defensive snaps (75.55 percent).
Bryce Callahan
Recorded 47 total tackles, two QB hits, two tackles for loss and six passes defended; appeared in all 15 games (11 starts) and played 586 defensive snaps (55.97 percent).
J.C. Jackson
Recorded 15 total tackles with two passes defended; appeared in five games (five starts) and played 244 defensive snaps (23.30 percent).
Ja'Sir Taylor
Recorded 22 total tackles and one pass defended; appeared in 17 games (three starts) and played 161 defensive snaps (15.38 percent).
Deane Leonard
Recorded five total tackles, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery; appeared in 17 games and played four defensive snaps (0.38 percent).
Take a look back at some of the best Chargers photos in monochrome from the 2022 season
2 questions for 2023
1. How does Jackson return from injury?
Jackson's arrival nearly a year ago was met with plenty of fanfare, but his first season with the Bolts was over before it really began.
The cornerback had a tough go of things with an ankle surgery followed by a serious knee injury just before the midway point of the season.
When healthy, Jackson remains one of the league's best players at his position. But his health will be something to monitor in the coming months, as Telesco said as much in his year-end presser.
"What he has going for him is his age and the fact that he's in such great physical condition that he should be able to come back from this injury. I think I told you all before, it's not an injury that we see that often," Telesco said. "We see it from time-to-time. It's not like some other injuries where you can really have a good prediction of what that time of return will be.
"He's been here rehabbing and he's moving along. To have an exact timeframe of when he'll be ready, I'm not really sure yet," Telesco added. "We'll probably know more, I expect, deeper in the offseason if he's ready for any type of OTAs or training camp, and kind of go from there."
2. Do the Bolts add more depth here in the draft?
The Chargers have drafted three cornerbacks in the past two seasons in Samuel, Taylor and Leonard.
Jackson and Callahan were 2022 free-agent additions, but the latter is scheduled to be a free agent again this spring. Davis, meanwhile, is still under contract.
The Chargers have high-end players in Jackson and Davis, plus young talent in Samuel and Taylor. But if they want to continue to add depth at the position, perhaps a Day 3 draft pick makes sense.
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