Chargers safety Adrian Phillips reportedly agrees to a contract with Patriots

The Chargers lost a key member of their secondary Thursday when safety Adrian Phillips reportedly agreed to a two-year contract with New England.

An All-Pro on special teams in 2018, Phillips has a game marked by versatility, the sort that allowed him to play linebacker when the Chargers went to their dime defense.

He opened last season as the team’s starter at strong safety after Derwin James was injured in August.

Phillips started twice before suffering a broken arm in Week 2 at Detroit. He made it back for the final five games.

Undrafted out of Texas in 2014, Phillips was on and off the Chargers’ active roster his first two seasons. He was cut by the team eight times before finding stability in 2016, when he appeared in 14 games.

Chargers

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March 18, 2020

He also was considered to be one of the Chargers’ most heady players because of his knowledge of the defense and ability to align his teammates when necessary. Coach Anthony Lynn called Phillips “the captain� of the secondary.

Desmond King, who mostly has played slot cornerback, has the ability to also line up at safety.

The Chargers on Wednesday agreed to terms with one of the league’s premier slot corners, Chris Harris Jr., a 2016 All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowler as the position.