Is Former Steeler Dez Fitzpatrick a Good Pickup for the LA Chargers?
Dez Fitzpatrick, former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver, has recently signed with the LA Chargers, officially joining their practice squad. This comes after he spent the 2023 season with the Steelers, only appearing in one game before being placed on their practice squad. However, despite his limited history, Fitzpatrick was making strides during the Steelers’ preseason, finishing with a particularly strong performance against the Detroit Lions. The wide receiver also had a brush with fame among Steelers fans following the success of his summer highlight clips, which gained popularity. In these short reels, Fitzpatrick could be seen completing play after play, leaving a good impression on Steelers fans.
However, the Pittsburgh Steelers ultimately selected Scotty Miller for their roster over Dez Fitzpatrick, leading him to sign with the LA Chargers. Signing the former Steeler was likely a tough decision for the Chargers, as Fitzpatrick has only appeared in six games after being selected in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL draft, coming from Louisville. These six games were a far cry from his performance at the University of Louisville, where he was fifth in the program’s history for his 21 touchdown catches and averaged 16.8 yards per catch. In his limited career of six games, the wide receiver has made five catches, resulting in one touchdown and 49 yards. However, the Chargers likely noted his standout performances in the recent preseason and sought Fitzpatrick to build their roster.
Another reason Dez Fitzpatrick made the switch to Los Angeles may be due in part to the Pittsburgh Steelers being busy stacking their roster with big-name wide receivers, such as Ben Skowronek and Brandon Johnson. The Chargers, on the other hand, lack standout wide receivers, especially considering that they have moved on from both Mike Williams and Keenan Allen during the latest postseason. This poses Fitzpatrick with the opportunity to get a jumpstart on the remainder of his career in the NFL and appear in games consistently. This also gives the Chargers a chance to reinvigorate their offense and complete a more successful season than their last, where they went five and twelve.
