Keenan Allen Returns to Los Angeles Chargers
Wide receiver Keenan Allen, who spent his first 11 career years in the NFL with the Los Angeles Chargers, has reached an agreement to return to the team. A one-year contract has been agreed upon. After the unexpected retirement of Mike Williams last month, the possibility of a reunion between Allen, 33, and the Chargers became latent. Allen held workouts with the team on August 1, and will now reunite with quarterback Justin Herbert. However, the six-time Pro Bowl selection will encounter a very different group of receivers than the one he left when the Chargers traded him to the Chicago Bears after the 2023 season. Wide receiver Ladd McConkey, who broke many of Allen’s rookie receiving records in 2024, spends most of his time as a slot receiver, just like Allen. Offensive coordinator Greg Roman will now be tasked with making Allen and McConkey fit into the passing offense. On Monday, Herbert was asked about the possibility of a meeting with Allen and how the veteran and McConkey could coexist, but he largely deferred to the directive.With Allen’s return, undrafted rookie quarterback DJ Uiagalelei switched from number 13 to number 7. The Chargers selected Allen with the number 76 pick in the 2013 NFL draft from the University of California. He remained in Los Angeles until the 2023 season, when, despite missing the last four games due to a heel injury, he set the Chargers’ single-season record for receptions with 108. He was the most reliable weapon in a receiving corps that was inconsistent throughout the season. But the Chargers traded him to the Chicago Bears for a 2024 fourth-round pick in March 2024 after the two sides couldn’t agree on the terms of a contract extension. Sources close to Allen reported that the transfer took him by surprise. In Chicago, however, Allen was not as productive and finished last season with 70 receptions for 744 yards and seven touchdowns before leaving in free agency this offseason.Keenan is a special player. He definitely has a lot of respect, we know how special he is.
Justin Herbert
