One of the stars of the preseason will now have to wait and see what his NFL future holds.
As part of the Chargers’ cut down to 53 roster spots, wide receiver Michael Bandy was waived Tuesday, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
It’s a move that likely indicates the Chargers will only keep five receivers on the initial 53: Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Joshua Palmer, DeAndre Carter, and Jalen Guyton.
Bandy was second in the league in preseason receiving yards with 172 in three games.
He showed NFL-caliber route running from the slot, but his lack of versatility hurt his chances of earning a roster spot. Allen, Palmer, Carter, and Guyton can all play inside or outside, leaving Bandy without much of a role on offense.
On special teams, Bandy would have been the backup returner behind Carter, but filling that role during the preseason left him without many opportunities to show the staff he could impact the game as a gunner.
Bandy will now have to wait to see if another team claims him on waivers. It’s a strong possibility for teams needing slot-specific receivers, especially with the way Bandy played this preseason. If he does make it through waivers, expect him to be one of Los Angeles’ first practice squad additions.
The Chargers have until 1 pm PT to finish trimming their roster to 53 players.
