EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Heading into training camp, the Los Angeles Chargers’ third safety spot was an open competition.
Through 11 practices, a front-runner is emerging: AJ Finley.
The battle is not over. The Chargers have more than a month, including three preseason games, before they open the season against the Las Vegas Raiders in September. But over the past week, Finley has been garnering more and more reps with the first-team defense. What started as a 50-50 split in reps between Finley and third-year safety JT Woods is now firmly leaning toward Finley.
“You work your whole life for opportunities like this,” Finley said after Monday’s practice.
In this version of defensive coordinator Jesse Minter’s scheme — and really any scheme built around safety Derwin James Jr. — the third safety spot is far more than a depth piece. One of James’ most impactful attributes is his versatility. He can play in the deep part of the field. He can play in the box. He can play in the slot. He can match up one-on-one with running backs, tight ends and receivers. He can rush the passer from myriad alignments.
When James moves to different positions — namely into the slot or to dime ’backer in six-defensive-back packages — a third safety must come onto the field to replace him in the back end of the defense. That is where Finley fits into Minter’s defensive equation.
In many ways, this third safety becomes a limiting reactant. James’ versatility is only as valuable as the quality of the player replacing him.
Take Mike Macdonald’s 2023 Baltimore Ravens defense as an example. Minter coached in Baltimore for four seasons as a defensive assistant and DBs coach. Macdonald was the Ravens’ linebackers coach for those four seasons. After one season at Michigan in 2021, Macdonald returned to Baltimore in 2022 as defensive coordinator. Last season, safety Kyle Hamilton was a first-team All-Pro. He played all over Macdonald’s defense, including in the slot. The Ravens got a breakout season from safety Geno Stone in 2023 as their third safety. Stone had seven interceptions. Hamilton’s versatility blossomed, in part, thanks to Stone’s emergence.
That is the recipe. And it’s important to note Minter comes from the same tree as Macdonald.
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The third safety position is paramount. A reliable player at that spot allows James to move around without sacrificing on the back end. Right now, Finley is positioned to claim that role.
When James moved to the slot during Sunday’s joint practice with the Los Angeles Rams, Finley was the first safety on the field. When safety Alohi Gilman missed two practices last week for the birth of his child, Finley worked as the second starting safety next to James. Monday, James sat out practice. Finley worked with the starters again.
Sunday, Finley flashed late in practice during the two-minute drill, working against Jimmy Garoppolo and the Rams’ second-team offense. On a first down, he diagnosed a corner route from Rams receiver Tutu Atwell to his side of the field. Finley timed his rotation from safety well and forced Garoppolo to throw into a tighter window. The ball sailed out of bounds. On the next play, Garoppolo threw to receiver Tyler Johnson over the middle. Finley broke downhill and jumped the route, nearly picking the ball off.
Friday, Finley had a pass breakup in the red zone in seven-on-seven. Quarterback Easton Stick threw to tight end Hayden Hurst in the middle of the end zone. Hurst tried to post up Finley. Finley fought through Hurst’s 6-foot-4 frame and knocked the pass away.
Finley had another pass breakup in seven-on-seven in Monday’s practice, this time working from the slot, where he has been cross-training in camp.
“I feel like a safety has to do everything — play in the slot, play deep, play in the box,” Finley said.
The playmaking has been there from Finley. But what has really separated him so far in camp is his communication, which is one of Minter’s defensive pillars. Minter calls it “obnoxious communication.”
The Chargers have several good communicators on defense, from James to Gilman to linebacker Denzel Perryman. Finley, even as a young player with limited defensive experience in the NFL, makes his voice heard when he is on the field. His calls, checks and guidance have been audible throughout camp alongside those of his veteran teammates.
Minter mentioned Finley’s communication earlier in camp.
“If you’re a quiet safety,” Finley said, “that’s no good.”
Finley joined the Chargers as an undrafted free agent out of Ole Miss in 2023. He made the 53-man roster coming out of camp. By Week 4, he was carving out time on special teams as a gunner on punts. Cornerback and gunner Deane Leonard was dealing with a hamstring injury, and Finley was the next man up.
Leonard dealt with another injury, this time a heel issue, late last season. Finley again was called upon at gunner. Against the Buffalo Bills in Week 16, Finley raced down from his spot at right gunner and hit Buffalo returner Deonte Harty, forcing a fumble. The Chargers recovered.
Finley finished the season with 199 special teams snaps, including 40 at gunner. Finley said the special teams experience helped him “gain a little confidence.”
“Going out there and knowing you can do it, I feel like that’s a big thing for a lot of guys,” Finley said. “If you go out there and you don’t know you can do it, I feel like that can hinder you a little bit. I had the confidence that I could do it the whole time. But honestly, going out there and making a few plays showed me that I could really do this thing.”
Cracking the defensive lineup consistently is the next step in Finley’s journey. And he does not have to look too far to see where his career could end up.
Gilman was a sixth-round pick in 2020. In his rookie season, Gilman earned his playing time on special teams with 172 snaps. In 2021, Gilman took over the third safety role behind James and Nasir Adderley. In 2022, he beat out Adderley for a starting job by the end of the season, as the Chargers made the playoffs. In 2023, Gilman was a full-time starter for the first time. And the Chargers extended him this offseason.
“I was in those positions,” Gilman said last week of the third safety role. “Because I have that perspective, I know how it feels, I’m constantly trying to build that in and instill into them to be able to prepare for those moments, because it could be anyone. You have to be ready, and it could change your career. It has for me.”
Alohi Gilman knows well the role that AJ Finley is trying to carve for himself as the No. 3 safety. (Kirby Lee / USA Today)
It is a difficult position to thrive in. On average, the third safety could only play 10 to 15 snaps per game. Of course, the role is game-plan dependent. For example, if James is playing significantly more in a slot for a specific matchup, then the third safety could play more. Still, the playing time is less consistent. Finley will be coming on only in specific sub-packages — big nickel and dime.
Finley’s approach? Stay ready.
“Walkthrough reps are something that guys take for granted,” Finley said. “Those are reps that, honestly, you got to treat them like a game rep. So walkthrough reps, spring reps and then the few reps I get in those packages, take advantage of all of them, make sure you’re communicating, make sure those guys are comfortable with you in there.”
News and notes
• The Chargers were not in pads Monday after Sunday’s joint practice. It was a lighter practice with a much slower and less physical tempo. The Chargers are scheduled to be back in pads Tuesday.
• Chargers who did not practice: quarterback Justin Herbert, edge rusher Joey Bosa, James, receiver Ladd McConkey, offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer, offensive lineman Trey Pipkins III, fullback/tight end Ben Mason, running back Kimani Vidal, receiver Leon Johnson, linebacker Junior Colson.
• Herbert worked out in the weight room at the start of practice. He then came onto the field to watch the second half of practice. He had the walking boot on his right foot. Vidal, Johnson and Colson all worked off to the side. Colson was in a helmet for the first time this camp. James, McConkey, Salyer and Pipkins all made appearances on the field later in practice, watching from the sideline in shorts and T-shirts. Bosa did not appear on the field. He left Sunday’s joint practice with an apparent left hand/wrist injury. Receiver DJ Chark left practice midway through and went inside the facility. He returned to the field in a T-shirt and shorts for the end of practice.
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• Cornerback Kristian Fulton had two interceptions in team drills Monday, including a pick-six. He has four interceptions in the past three practices.
another one thank u pic.twitter.com/lBGraKaTp0
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) August 4, 2024
• Offensive lineman Jordan McFadden caught his first pass of training camp. He ran a flat route off play action, and rookie quarterback Casey Bauman connected with him. McFadden has been playing as a tight end and fullback in certain packages. This was his second target of camp. McFadden had a drop in the flat in Thursday’s practice. So some progress here as offensive coordinator Greg Roman and the Chargers build out a creative role for McFadden.
• Receiver Quentin Johnston and tight and Donald Parham Jr. were both back in team drills.
• Rookie tackle Joe Alt and tackle Rashawn Slater were working together after practice. Alt said he has been debriefing with Slater after every practice to see what he can improve. “I’ve really been leaning on him,” Alt said of Slater.
Alt said Monday’s post-practice session focused on techniques in pass protection against bull rushes. “The idea of how to elevate the defender so you’re getting underneath them and really lifting them off the ground so they’re losing their power,” Alt said.
(Top photo: Brandon Sloter / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
