Javontee Herndon was in the mix to end this preseason as the Chargers’ fifth wide receiver.

Unfortunately, that bid never began.

The receiver-returner injured his knee on July 30, the first day of training camp, while participating in what should’ve been a rudimentary punt return drill. Instead, he suffered a non-contact knee injury that required arthroscopic surgery last week, sources said. Herndon was waived-injured Tuesday, part of a cluster of roster moves the Chargers made when cutting from a 90- to 75-man roster by the NFL’s 1 p.m. PT deadline.

Herndon will default to injured reserve upon clearing waivers Wednesday.


So will running back Dreamius Smith, defensive lineman Zamir Carlis and tackle Tyler Johnstone, who were waived-injured as well. Running back Branden Oliver (Achilles) and guard Donavon Clark (knee) were placed on injured reserve, and quarterback Zach Mettenberger was waived. To complete the cutdown, the NFL granted San Diego a roster exemption for rookie defensive end Joey Bosa, who just signed Monday and won’t appear in Thursday’s exhibition finale against the 49ers.

There is no comparing the disappointment for a player injured or cut.

But certainly, Herndon has reason to be dismayed.

He had high hopes for the 2016 campaign, given the experience he acquired last season. After spending all of 2014 and the start of the 2015 on the Chargers’ practice squad, he debuted on the active roster in Week 9. Herndon, 24, offered an immediate boost to a disparate return game, averaging 7.4 yards on 11 punt returns to finish the year.


By comparison, the rest of the team managed 3 yards on nine returns in 2015.

And so, go figure, on the first day of camp, Herndon says he felt his left knee “kind of give out on me” while doing, of all things, a punt return.

“It’s been hard, but that’s life,” said Herndon, who remains on crutches. “The only thing to do now is to get healthy. That’s my main focus. From here on out, I don’t know how long it’s going to take. But I’m ready to tackle that, and we’ll see what happens after that.”

Herndon joined the team in 2014 as an undrafted rookie out of Arkansas. He caught 24 passes for 195 yards in 2015.


Isaiah Burse and rookie Dom Williams were among the young wide receivers to see extensive action in training camp in his place.