Keenan Allen's stint with the Los Angeles Chargers officially ended earlier this month after he was traded to the Chicago Bears, leaving many fans sad.
The 31-year-old wide receiver joined the Chargers in 2013 as a 76th overall pick and became a fan favorite.
However, after the changes initiated by General Manager Joe Hortiz, he will not be on the roster for the 2024 season.
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The team is entering a new era with a new offensive system following the hiring of NCAA champion coach Jim Harbaugh.
The first thing the team has to deal with this season is the salary cap, which, unfortunately, means letting go of some beloved players.
Allen is among the four players who won 40 percent of their entire cap. The team is currently $30 million over the cap, so decisions must be made.
Linebackers Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack got to stay by restructuring their massive contracts.
However, Allen's case went a different way.
Joe Hortiz on making the hard decisions
General Manager Joe Hortiz clarified that letting go of Allen was not their initial intent.
He said an extension was offered to the 2017 NFL Comeback Player of the Year, but the two sides did not reach an agreement.
And so, they had to be realistic.
"We had four great players with great contracts in terms of volume and money. So, you know, we had to address that," he said.
"The reality of it is, given the cap and the situation we're in, the likelihood of multiple players coming back and thus being able to build depth and a complete team wasn't realistic."
With Allen out, Joshua Palmer is expected to fill in for his place. Quentin Johnson will also be an option.
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