Fullback · Los Angeles Chargers

Scott Matlock

No. 44 · 4th season

Scott Matlock is going back to defense — and it might cost him his spot

The path back to where you started isn't always the safe one.

Scott Matlock has been working his way through the roster fringe of the Los Angeles Chargers, and in 2026 he's making a full return to playing defensive tackle — the position he was built for. That sounds like good news. It might not be.

The move back to defense also puts him in direct competition for roster spots that are already spoken for. Whatever flexibility he offered before, it narrows now. Defensive tackle is where he belongs; it's also where the math gets harder.

There's a version of this where the return to his natural role unlocks something. There's another version where it just makes him easier to count. Right now, nobody knows which story this is.

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