There are good plays and bad plays during an NFL season, and coaches accept that fact, but when a player doesn’t try or simply quits on a play, that’s a problem. And that’s why Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh now has a problem with his punter JK Scott.
Harbaugh was not necessarily in a good mood following his team’s blowout loss (we’d tell you the score but preseason scores don’t matter) to the San Francisco 49ers late Thursday night.
Los Angeles Chargers punter JK Scott (16) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. (Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images)
And then the subject of Jacob Cowing’s 83-yard punt return against the Chargers came up, and that made Harbaugh seriously displeased.
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Why?
Because Scott had an opportunity to tackle Cowing and decided not to. It’s not that Scott attempted to make the play and failed.
Scott simply didn’t try.
He gave up.
Made a business decision.
It was so egregious that Harbaugh was asked after the game if the team has told Scott, the only punter on the roster, not to make the attempt so as to not injure himself.
Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh speaks at a news conference after an NFL preseason football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)
“No, he’s got to plan, when he’s in that position, to make a tackle,” Harbaugh said tight-lipped. “So, we need to work on it, coach it up.”
The Chargers apparently do not condone simply allowing the opposing team’s ballcarrier to breeze past without at least trying.
It gets worse.
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Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh talks with reporters during an AFC coaches availability at the NFL owners meetings, Monday, March 25, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Scott, who finished 10th in the NFL last season with a 47.8 punt average, apparently outkicked his coverage with a 52-yard boot.
But Harbaugh was so peeved by the play, his take was that Scott kicked the ball short.
“The punt was short and in the middle and we got outflanked,” Harbaugh said.
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Scott apparently was not approached by reporters and did not speak to any after the game.
He should probably get used to that happening in the coming days because everyone wants to know what the heck he was thinking in the moment.
And what he thinks of his inclusion in tackle drills at practice.
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