Stevie Johnson Reportedly to Be Released by Chargers

The Los Angeles Chargers are reportedly set to release wide receiver Stevie Johnson on Tuesday in a cost-cutting move.

Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune was the first to report the news and added it will save L.A. $3.5 million. NFL Network's Mike Garafolo confirmed the move.

Johnson missed the entire 2016 season because of a meniscus tear.

The 30-year-old veteran last appeared in a regular-season game in a 2015 campaign that saw him register 45 receptions for 497 yards and three touchdowns in 10 contests for the Chargers.

He spent the previous season with the San Francisco 49ers after being a member of the Buffalo Bills for the first six years of his career.

The former seventh-round pick out of Kentucky topped 1,000 yards in three consecutive seasons from 2010 through 2012 with the Bills and also averaged nearly eight touchdowns per season during that timespan.

Despite once being among the NFL's most productive receivers, Johnson hasn't reached the 600-yard mark in a single campaign since 2012.

Releasing Johnson doesn't figure to have a sizable impact on L.A.'s offense since it developed a deep and talented group of wideouts in 2016.

Keenan Allen missed all but one game after tearing his ACL, but if he can return to health alongside Travis Benjamin, Tyrell Williams and Dontrelle Inman, quarterback Philip Rivers will have plenty of quality options in the passing game.