After a disappointing campaign for the entire unit in 2022, many Bolts fans await a better showing from their defense in 2023.
One of the critical pieces to such a turnaround is defensive tackle Morgan Fox, whose role in the middle of LA's defense will be vital to their success this year.
The Los Angeles Rams picked Fox up in 2016 after going undrafted out of CSU Pueblo in that season's draft.
Pairing alongside Aaron Donald, Fox made a formidable pair in the middle of a Ram defense that rapidly improved as their record did under the newest coach at the time in Sean McVay.
Though the Rams made the Super Bowl in 2018, Fox was unfortunately not a part of those defensive gameplans after tearing his ACL and missing all of the season.
After leaving the Rams in 2020 with a reputation for being a good run stuffer in the middle of the trenches, Fox signed on with the Carolina Panthers in 2021.
One season in the NFC South saw Fox's departure from the Panthers, and the defensive tackle signed with the Bolts in 2022.
In 17 games, Fox had a career-high in sacks with 6.5 and had 38 tackles to his name for the Chargers and could be poised for an even more significant role in 2023.
Developing more of his pass-rushing skills at his usual position, perhaps some of Donald's skills rubbed off on his former teammate in what was a breakout season on an otherwise underwhelming unit.
Wanting to wash the bad taste of previous playoff failure out of their mouths, Fox and the rest of the Chargers are finally poised to take control of the AFC West.
Kansas City is looking as vulnerable as they've ever been, and Justin Herbert and company may see this as an opportunity to go far in the AFC postseason this year.
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