EL SEGUNDO — The emergence of Derius Davis as a go-to target for quarterback Justin Herbert has had multiple benefits for the Chargers. After all, Davis isn’t just a punt and kickoff return specialist. He has caught touchdown passes in each of the past two games, the first two of his two-season career.
Davis’ only other touchdown came on an 87-yard punt return during the Chargers’ victory Nov. 6, 2023 against the New York Jets, a sprint that propelled the team to a 27-6 blowout victory. He retained his job returning punts and kicks under a new coaching staff.
But his role has been enhanced this season, and it’s paid dividends with remarkable touchdowns in victories over the New England Patriots and the Denver Broncos. He had two receptions in each game, including touchdown catches of 23 yards against the Patriots and 19 yards against the Broncos.
In addition, Davis has been an occasional rusher, sometimes more successfully than other attempts. The idea, of course, is to get the ball into the hands of the speedy and shifty Davis more often and in varying ways, the better to make use of his speed and his ability to elude and break tackles.
“I’m getting more and more into the playbook and making sure I know what my assignment is,” Davis said Wednesday. “I want to be that spark. Every time I step on the field, I’m thinking about scoring a touchdown. I just want to continue to be that spark for our team and make big plays.”
It’s a role that figures to be all the more important with wide receiver Joshua Palmer sidelined by a foot injury. Palmer didn’t practice with his teammates Wednesday and his availability for the playoff-bound Chargers’ regular-season final Sunday against the Raiders in Las Vegas wasn’t immediately certain.
“He’s done such a great job of stepping up,” Herbert said of Davis, who has 12 catches for 112 yards and two touchdowns this season plus 40 yards rushing on 11 attempts. “We ask a lot of him. To be able to return punts and kicks and do everything he does and play receiver, it’s a tough challenge. (But) it’s bought him more targets and more trust. He’s done such a great job with his opportunity.”
Davis has caught five passes for first downs and rushed twice for first downs, another indication of his reliability and his ability to make plays. The next assignment for Herbert and the coaching staff is to find more ways to take advantage of Davis, a fourth-round draft pick from TCU in 2023.
“Whether it’s handing him the ball or throwing it to him, we’ve just got to find ways to get him the ball,” Herbert said. “Because, as you’ve seen, whether it’s punt returns, or catching it, whether it’s out of the backfield, he makes people miss. He’s tough to tackle. He makes people miss tackles.”
Coach Jim Harbaugh said the Chargers opened the window for safety Alohi Gilman to return from injured reserve to the active roster. Gilman’s participation was described as limited in his first practice since he injured his hamstring during the Chargers’ 30-23 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 12.
Gilman’s return to the practice field comes after safety Elijah Molden suffered a season-ending broken fibula during the third quarter of the Chargers’ victory over the Patriots this past Sunday. When he’s pronounced sound enough to play, Gilman will be reunited with safety Derwin James Jr.
Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker was named the AFC’s special teams player of the week, the third selection of his three-year career. He kicked four field goals in the Chargers’ 40-7 playoff-clinching victory this past Sunday over the Patriots. Overall, he has made 35 of 37 field goals this season.
Dicker kicked a career-long 59-yard field goal during the Chargers’ 17-15 loss to the Arizona Cardinals in Week 7. He also converted a 57-yard fair catch free kick, the first successful attempt in the NFL in nearly 50 years, during their victory over the Broncos in Week 16 at SoFi Stadium.
