Saahdiq Charles
refer to caption
Charles with the Washington Football Team in 2021
No. 77 – Washington Commanders
Position:Guard
Personal information
Born: (1999-07-26) July 26, 1999
Jackson, Mississippi, U.S.
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:322 lb (146 kg)
Career information
High school:Madison-Ridgeland Academy (Madison, Mississippi)
College:LSU (2017–2019)
NFL Draft:2020 / Round: 4 / Pick: 108
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 18, 2023
Games played:35
Games started:18
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Saahdiq Charles (born July 26, 1999) is an American football guard for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at LSU and was selected by Washington in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Charles was a member of the LSU team that won the 2020 College Football Playoff National Championship.

Early life and high school

Charles grew up in New Orleans until his family was displaced by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.[1] He and his family lived in Houston, Valdosta, Georgia and Montgomery, Alabama before settling in Jackson, Mississippi. Charles attended Madison-Ridgeland Academy, where played offensive and defensive line on the football team.[2][3] A 4-star recruit according to rivals.com, Charles committed to play college football at LSU over offers from Florida, Memphis, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, and Tennessee, among others.[4][5]

College career

Charles (#77) at LSU, 2018

Charles played in all 13 of the Tigers' games with nine starts as a true freshman in 2017 and was named to the Southeastern Conference (SEC) All-Freshman team. He started ten games at left tackle as a sophomore.[6]

During his junior season, Charles was suspended for the entirety of the Tigers' non-conference schedule due to a violation of team rules, but started the final nine games of the season at left tackle as the Tigers won the 2020 National Championship.[7][8] Following the end of the season, Charles declared for the 2020 NFL Draft, forgoing his senior season.[9]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split
6 ft 4+1⁄8 in
(1.93 m)		 321 lb
(146 kg)		 33 in
(0.84 m)		 10 in
(0.25 m)		5.05 s1.87 s3.01 s
All values from NFL Combine[10][11]

Charles was selected by the Washington Redskins in the fourth round, 108th overall, of the 2020 NFL Draft.[12] He signed his four-year rookie contract on July 22, 2020.[13] After missing the first five games of the season due to injury, Charles made his NFL debut in the Week 6 game against the New York Giants. Despite taking reps in training camp at offensive tackle, the team started him at left guard replacing Wes Martin, who had struggled in first five games as the starter.[14] Charles left the game in the first quarter due to a dislocated knee cap,[15] and was placed on injured reserve on October 24, 2020.[16]

Charles had his second career start and his first at tackle in a Week 8 game against the Denver Broncos in 2021.[17] He was placed on the COVID-19 reserve list on November 9, 2021,[18] but was placed back on the active roster seven days later.[19] In the Week 15 and Week 16 games against the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys, respectively, Charles started at right guard in place of Brandon Scherff who was on the team's COVID-19 reserve list.

In Week 4 of the 2022 season, Charles took over at right guard after starter Trai Turner was benched. Following the game, Charles started at right guard for three straight games before Turner returning to the starting lineup in Week 8.[20] On January 6, 2023, he was placed on injured reserve.[21]

In the 2023 offseason, Charles beat out Chris Paul and won the starting left guard position.[22] He suffered a calf injury in Week 7 and was placed on injured reserve on October 28, 2023.[23] He was activated on December 15.

References

  1. ↑ Edholm, Eric (February 26, 2020). "LSU's Saahdiq Charles tries to put 'selfish and stupid mistake' behind him at NFL scouting combine". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  2. ↑ Cleveland, Tyler (January 8, 2020). "Guarding the Best: Former MRA Patriot to play for college football championship". Madison County Journal. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  3. ↑ Boudwin, Julie (May 19, 2016). "Katrina forced 2017 recruit Saahdiq Charles to Mississippi, but LSU could bring him home". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  4. ↑ Sammon, Will (May 24, 2016). "Saahdiq Charles commits to LSU over Mississippi State". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Saahdiq Charles, 2017 Offensive Guard". Rivals.com. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  6. ↑ Kubena, Brooks (August 9, 2019). "LSU's Saahdiq Charles, latecomer to left tackle, is prepared for a breakout season". The Advocate. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  7. ↑ West, Glen (March 27, 2020). "Road to the Pros: LSU Tackle Saahdiq Charles' Off the Field Concerns Could Supersede On Field Talent". SI.com. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  8. ↑ Shipp, Sonny (April 14, 2020). "CBSSports.com analyst likes Saahdiq Charles more than scouts do". 247Sports.com. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  9. ↑ Lindsley, Amanda (January 15, 2020). "LSU's Saahdiq Charles declares for NFL Draft". WFAB.com. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Saahdiq Charles Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  11. ↑ "Saahdiq Charles, LSU, OT, 2020 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  12. ↑ Stackpole, Kyle (April 25, 2020). "Redskins Draft Tackle Saahdiq Charles With Fourth-Round Pick". Redskins.com. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  13. ↑ Fortier, Sam; Jhabvala, Nicki (July 23, 2020). "No. 2 overall pick Chase Young signs with Washington". Washington Post. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  14. ↑ Hailey, Peter (October 16, 2020). "Washington is giving Charles practice reps at guard due to 'need'". NBCSports.com. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  15. ↑ Lingebach, Chris (October 19, 2020). "Reports: Saahdiq Charles could return after bye week, after suffering dislocated kneecap". Radio.com. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  16. ↑ "Washington Places Saahdiq Charles, Antonio Gandy-Golden On IR; Pulls 2 WRs From Practice Squad". Washington Commanders. October 24, 2020. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  17. ↑ Manning, Bryan (November 2, 2021). "Snap counts from Washington's Week 8 loss". USAToday.com. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  18. ↑ Manning, Bryan (November 10, 2021). "Washington offensive tackle Saahdiq Charles placed on COVID list". Washington Football Wire. USA Today. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
  19. ↑ "Washington places Chase Young on IR amid multiple roster moves". Washington Commanders. November 16, 2021. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  20. ↑ Hailey, Peter (October 6, 2022). "Charles, Turner and Washington's changing of the (right) guard". NBCSports.com. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  21. ↑ Selby, Zach (January 6, 2023). "Commanders place Saahdiq Charles, Benjamin St-Juste on IR". Commanders.com. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
  22. ↑ Manning, Bryan (September 6, 2023). "Former Washington offensive lineman is a big fan of Saahdiq Charles". USAToday.com. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  23. ↑ Selby, Zach (October 28, 2023). "Commanders elevate LB Jabril Cox from practice squad as part of several other roster moves". Commanders.com.
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