Chargers expect 'breakout season' from key second-year player

The LA Chargers drafted linebacker Junior Colson out of Michigan with their third-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. At one point, the expectation was for him to play a bigger role on defense. HC Jim Harbaugh praised the way that Colson was carrying himself in OTAs last season.

Unfortunately, Colson never quite got his bearings in year one for a litany of reasons. He suffered an injury during OTAs last season and then had to miss training camp after undergoing an appendectomy.

About midway through his rookie campaign, Colson also suffered an ankle injury that landed him on IR. It felt like a lack of optimal practice time in addition to the injuries, prevented the Michigan product from reaching his ceiling in year one.

DC Jesse Minter talked about Colson's setbacks in his rookie season when he joined the Chargers Weekly podcast earlier this month. "Junior kinda suffered a few-I don't want to call them flukes because nothing is really a fluke," Minter started. "But he had an appendectomy right before camp started and missed most of training camp. In and out with a few things."

But there's still a lot of enthusiasm in the building for Colson's potential development in year two. Yesterday, veteran LB Denzel Perryman said that he expects a "breakout season" for Colson at his media availability.

"A breakout season," Perryman started when he was asked about his expectations for Colson. "I'm expecting a breakout season. I'm pretty sure last season didn't go the way that he wanted it to go with injuries and everything like that. And I mean he's working also, he's been here every day in the offseason also."

Chargers are anticipating a Junior Colson breakout in 2025

LBs coach NaVorro Bowman also got the chance to speak to the media about his position group as a whole. On Colson's rookie season, Bowman started with this:

"Junior was the guy at Michigan," Bowman said. "And when you come from that, you have expectations for yourself. But this is a different business, different type of animal for him. And I thought he learned that very fast last year. And I think his approach this year, whether it's body or on the field, he's headed in the right direction."

Bowman stated that one of the goals of the coaching staff was to have a healthy Colson by the time training camp rolls around:

"He's been with Coach Herb (Ben Herbert). He's done the extra," Bowman said. "He's dropped a few pounds, I think he's moving a little better. And just want to keep him healthy and get him to camp, I think that's the best thing for him. Having him be 100% and really show us his NFL play, that's our goal as a staff to get Junior to camp."

Minter echoed some of the same sentiments as Bowman on the work Colson has done on his body during the offseason in the aforementioned Chargers Weekly appearance. With a more cohesive offseason that is hopefully injury free, the coaching staff clearly believes that the former third-round selection can make strides in year two.