Josh Palmer, the former Vols wide receiver, has a prime opportunity to shine this season in Los Angeles.
When Tennessee fans think of VFL wide receivers making an impact in the NFL, they likely think of Jalin Hyatt, who won the 2022 Biletnikoff Award and is still waiting for his chance to shine in New York. Others might mention Cedric Tillman in Cleveland, Jauan Jennings in San Francisco, or even Cordarrelle Patterson with the Atlanta Falcons.
However, a former Tennessee player might outshine them all this fall, at least in terms of on-field performance.
Palmer, drafted by the Los Angeles Chargers in the third round of the 2021 draft, entered his rookie season in a crowded offense with established stars like Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, and Austin Ekeler. Despite this, Palmer still made an impact, turning 49 targets into 33 catches for 353 yards and 4 touchdowns across 17 games, including 5 starts.
In 2022, Palmer’s role expanded significantly. He finished second on the team in both receptions (72) and receiving yards (769), stepping up when both Allen and Williams were sidelined by injuries. His contributions helped the Chargers secure a wild card playoff spot.
Now, with Williams out for the season after suffering a torn ACL, Palmer is primed to take over as the #2 wide receiver alongside Allen. While his statistical production has been modest to start the season (8 catches for 83 yards through 3 games), Palmer’s familiarity with the offense and trust from quarterback Justin Herbert should lead to more opportunities.
Although Palmer struggled to break out at Tennessee from 2017-2020, failing to reach 500 receiving yards or 35 catches in a season, it’s understandable given the program’s struggles during those years. Now, Palmer is in a new situation: playing a key role on one of the NFL’s most exciting offenses with one of the league’s best quarterbacks. His rise could be one of the season’s most compelling stories.
