Jan 6, 2019; Baltimore, MD, USA; Los Angeles Chargers running back Melvin Gordon (28) carries the ball past Baltimore Ravens defensive end Brent Urban (96) in the third quarter in a AFC Wild Card playoff football game at M&T Bank Stadium. The Chargers won 23-17. Photo Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Los Angeles Chargers running back Melvin Gordon will not report to training camp without a new contract, ESPN reported Thursday.
Gordon also reportedly told the Chargers that failure to reach agreement on a contract would result in a trade demand. Gordon’s agent, Fletcher Smith, told ESPN’s Adam Schefter of the holdout and trade scenarios on Thursday.
The Chargers are scheduled to open training camp July 25.
Gordon signed a four-year, $10.67 million deal as a first-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, and in April, the Chargers exercised their fifth-year option for $5.61 million for 2019.
The 26-year-old has 38 touchdowns over the past three seasons.
Gordon did not attend voluntary workouts with the Chargers but did report to minicamp in June.
At that time, he said he was trying to avoid contract conversations, but he noted fellow 2015 first-round Todd Gurley already had received a long-term deal from the Rams.
“I’m just trying not to talk about it. If it’s going to happen, it’ll happen. When it does, I’m pretty sure you guys will know,” Gordon told ESPN in June.
Gurley signed a four-year, $60 million extension with $45 million guaranteed in 2018.
“It’s an issue with everybody else,” Gordon said. “But I know my value. I know what I bring to this team, and I’m sticking with that. Todd’s paid, so Todd don’t care what anybody says right now – him or David Johnson – they can say what they want to say. They signed the dotted line. But unfortunately I haven’t yet, so I’ve got to take the heat for some of the stuff that they’re going through. But I’m not them, and like I said, I know my value.”
