Brandon Staley Chargers Jan 1, 2023; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers head coach Brandon Staley watches from the sidelines in the first half against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Los Angeles Chargers head coach Brandon Staley was criticized heavily for his decision to play key starters in Week 18 despite having no playoff-seeding outcomes on the line. This resulted in star wide receiver Mike Williams getting injured in the game, and now his status is very much in question after not practicing all week.

Staley responded to reports that Williams is officially questionable for Saturday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, giving an optimistic answer that Chargers fans did not love considering his decision essentially led to the injury.

“The reps aren’t what matter the rest is,” said Staley via NFL Network’s Bridget Condon on Williams missing practice.

 

While the Chargers’ social media team pulled up receipts of their critics in an epic playoff hype video earlier this week, fans did the same by pointing out that Staley’s decision to play his starters ultimately resulted in the injury.

“Probably should have rested Sunday,” tweeted PGA Tour golfer Hunter Mahan.

“Week 18: rest doesn’t matter, we want reps for our guys. Wild Card” reps don’t matter, rest is more important,” tweeted Warren Sharp of The Ringer.

“That quote, considering what happened on Sunday, is shattering my brain,” tweeted Matt Verderame of Fansided.

“Imagine if the rest mattered more than the reps last Sunday,” tweeted Josh Dubow of the Associated Press.

It’s obviously impossible to predict an injury for any player in any given game. That being said, these comments show exactly why it was certainly the wrong decision to play his starters in Week 18 instead of resting his starters for the postseason.

Williams may still be able to play, but if he doesn’t Brandon Staley will undoubtedly be the one to blame for the entire situation.

[Bridget Condon on Twitter]

About Reice Shipley

Reice Shipley is a staff writer for Comeback Media that graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Sports Media. He previously worked at Barrett Sports Media and is a fan of all things Syracuse sports.