JK Scott has had plenty of chances to prove he can be a reliable punter for the Chargers, but the inconsistency continues. After another shanked punt Thursday night, it may finally be time for Los Angeles to move on.
At some point, enough is enough.
The Los Angeles Chargers have stuck with JK Scott for several seasons now, and while he has had some good moments, it is becoming increasingly difficult to justify keeping him around after another poor performance.
Scott struggled again Thursday night against the Los Angeles Rams, shanking yet another punt as the Chargers finished the preseason with a 20-18 loss. He finished the night with three punts for just 33.7 yards per punt, with a long of only 48 yards.
The bigger issue, however, is that this isn’t just about one bad preseason game.
Scott’s 2025 season looks better on paper than it actually felt watching him punt. He averaged 47.8 yards per punt with a 41.4-yard net average and placed 23 punts inside the 20-yard line. Those numbers aren’t terrible, but there were too many inconsistent punts and too many moments where the Chargers failed to get the field-position advantage they needed.
And then there was the 83-yard punt return touchdown against the 49ers earlier this preseason.
That play wasn’t entirely Scott’s fault, but it certainly didn’t help his case. Scott outkicked his coverage and then failed to make the tackle, something Jim Harbaugh specifically addressed afterward. Harbaugh said Scott needed to have a plan for making the tackle in that situation.
Now, the Chargers have another issue to consider.
Special teams matter.
The Chargers are trying to build a team capable of competing for a championship. They have invested heavily in their offense and defense, and they cannot afford to consistently give away field position because their punter isn’t getting the job done.
Scott has also been with the Chargers since 2022, so this isn’t a player who is still trying to figure out what the team expects from him. He has had plenty of time to establish himself as a reliable weapon.
To be fair, Scott has had some excellent punts during his Chargers career. However, those moments have been few and far between.
But the Chargers shouldn’t be making roster decisions based on what Scott is capable of doing occasionally. They need to look at what he consistently provides.
With roster cuts coming up, this should be a position worth exploring. If there is another punter available who can provide more consistency, better placement and fewer mistakes, the Chargers should seriously consider making a change.
Thursday night’s game was only a preseason game, so it would be foolish to act like one shanked punt should determine Scott’s future.
But when it becomes part of a larger pattern, it is time to pay attention.
The Chargers have bigger problems than punter, but that doesn’t mean they should ignore one that can be fixed.
It is time to move on from JK Scott.
