Corey Linsley Released By Chargers, Expected To Retire
Veteran center Corey Linsley, who is expected to announce his retirement this offseason, was released by the Los Angeles Chargers on Wednesday. The two-time All-Pro selection spent the last three seasons with L.A. after seven seasons with the Green Bay Packers. Linsley played just three games in 2023 due to a heart-related health issue, and the 32-year-old looks to be headed toward life after football. Overall, the former fifth-round pick started in 132 games and was viewed as one of the game's best centers over the last decade.
Los Angeles Chargers center Corey Linsley agreed to a restructured contract on Monday that lowers his base salary from $11.5 million to the minimum for the 2024 season. The move creates $10.29 million in salary cap space for now, and if Linsley decides to retire after June 1, the team can spread the dead cap hit over two years. The 32-year-old veteran told reporters after the 2023 season that he was 99 percent likely to retire this offseason. Linsley was placed on Injured Reserve last year due to a heart issue and only played in three games. The Chargers are simply planning ahead in the likely event that Linsley hangs up his cleats before the start of the new league year. Linsley was a former fifth-round pick of the Packers in 2014 and made his one and only Pro Bowl in his first year with LA in 2021.
Los Angeles Chargers center Corey Linsley (knee) missed practice on Wednesday. The veteran reportedly suffered the injury during their Week 2 loss to the Chiefs. The 31-year-old has been their starting center since they acquired him last offseason. He played in 16 games last season and both games this year, grading as the 11th-best center in 2022. His absence would be a significant blow for the team and quarterback Justin Herbert (ribs), who has developed familiarity with him.
Los Angeles Chargers offensive lineman Corey Linsley (knee) is questionable to return in Thursday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs. He suffered a knee injury during the second quarter and did not come out with the team during the second half. The 31-year-old logged the major of snaps before injuring his knee. Linsley controls many of their protection adjustments, and his absence from the offensive line only hurts quarterback Justin Herbert and the Chargers' offense.
The Los Angeles Chargers signed free-agent center Corey Linsley to a five-year, $62.5 million deal on Monday. The deal makes Linsley the highest-paid center in the league. The former Green Bay Packer center will make $26 million over the first two years of the deal. The 29-year-old All-Pro from Ohio State graded out as the top center in 2020, per Pro Football Focus. His presence on LA's offensive line will be a huge boost to second-year quarterback Justin Herbert and running back Austin Ekeler moving forward. Linsley will become an immediate high-caliber player on the offensive line and a leader in the Chargers locker room in 2021 and beyond.
Green Bay Packers impending free-agent center Corey Linsley said that he feels his departure is coming in free agency. "We're not closing the door for anything," Linsley said. "Obviously we'd never do that for any team, especially the Packers, but yeah it definitely feels weird. Looks like all signs are pointing towards snapping the ball somewhere else next year." Pro Football Focus rated Linsley, who will turn 30 in July, as the best center in football last year. The Packers currently sit around $11 million over the salary cap, and Linsley is likely to command a salary that would put him among the top-10 centers in the NFL. His departure on the offensive line would be bad news for quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who won the MVP in 2020.
Green Bay Packers center Corey Linsley (knee) was placed on Injured Reserve on Saturday, meaning he'll have to sit out the next three games. In a corresponding move, the team elevated offensive guard Ben Braden from the practice squad to the active roster as a COVID-19 replacement. Tight end Dominique Dafney was also elevated from the practice squad to the active roster. Linsley's injury is a downgrade for quarterback Aaron Rodgers, but fantasy managers should continue to treat him as a top-five fantasy signal-caller heading into a matchup with the Eagles in Week 13. Philadelphia's defense has actually allowed the third-fewest fantasy points per game to the QB position in the last five weeks, but Rodgers has been on another level this season and cannot be benched.
Green Bay Packers center Corey Linsley (knee) is believed to have suffered an MCL sprain on Sunday night, but an MRI exam on Monday will tell the full story, according to a source. Head coach Matt LaFleur said after the Week 11 win over the division-rival Bears that initial indications are that it's not a season-ending injury. Linsley might have to miss some time, but thankfully for the team it looks like he won't miss the rest of the season. Green Bay's offensive line has been excellent in protecting quarterback Aaron Rodgers, as he's been sacked just 11 times in 2020. Linsley missing time would be bad news for the Packers, but it wouldn't be enough to lower Rodgers' sky-high fantasy ceiling.
