The Chargers signed Rountree to a reserve/future contract Monday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
What it means:
Rountree was elevated ahead of Saturday's loss to the Jaguars in the wild-card round. He then reverted to the practice squad Monday after exclusively playing on special teams during this season-ending defeat, per the NFL's transaction log. The 23-year-old will now get another opportunity to carve out a bigger role heading into this third NFL season in 2023. Rountree has recorded 49 carries for 106 yards and a touchdown over the past two seasons with the Chargers.
Rountree was elevated from the practice squad to the active roster Friday.
What it means:
Rountree will join the Chargers for their playoff matchup with the Jaguars in the wild-card round Saturday. The running back garnered only 13 carries for 19 yards this season and won't likely have much of an impact on the offensive end versus Jacksonville.
Rountree finished the 2022-23 season with 13 carries for 19 yards and caught both of his targets for another 14 yards.
What it means:
Rountree had a quiet season, as he spent the majority of it on the practice squad and appeared in just four games. The 2021 sixth-round pick finished fifth in yards and touchdowns among all Chargers running backs, and was also the least efficient, as he averaged just 1.5 yards per carry. Rountree's production fell off from his rookie season, as he had more than double the amount of touches and yards he had this year and also found the end zone once.
Rountree reverted to the Chargers' practice squad Monday, per the NFL's transaction log.
What it means:
Rountree saw some action during garbage time of Sunday's regular-season finale against Denver. The second-year running back wound up playing eight of his 21 snaps on offense, recording three carries for four yards and a one-yard catch during the fourth quarter. Rountree has now recorded 13 carries for 19 yards and two receptions (on two targets) for 14 yards over the final two weeks of the regular season.
The Chargers elevated Rountree from the practice squad for Sunday's game against the Broncos.
What it means:
Rountree will be elevated for the third week in a row to end the 2022 regular season. The second-year running back logged 10 carries for 15 yards and a 13-yard reception while playing 12 offensive snaps during garbage time against the Rams in Week 17. With the Bolts already locked into a wild-card spot heading into the regular-season finale, it's possible Rountree could once again see a healthy workload if the team decides to spare top running backs Austin Ekeler and Joshua Kelley from their usual number of touches Week 18.
The Chargers moved Rountree back to their practice squad Monday, per the NFL's transaction log.
What it means:
Rountree played 13 of 64 offensive snaps and 10 special-teams snaps in Sunday's win over the Rams. He finished with 10 carries for 15 yards and caught his only target for 13 yards. Rountree logged more work than expected behind Austin Ekeler (28 snaps) and Joshua Kelley (23), though all of Rountree's work came late in the game after the outcome was essentially decided. With that in mind, Rountree likely won't see this much work next week against Denver if he is elevated again, as the Chargers will be looking to set themselves up as the No. 5 seed in the AFC playoffs.
