San Diego Chargers add Eddie Royal to Roster

San Diego, California - The Chargers added a top punt returner and a versatile receiver Thursday by agreeing to a three-year contract with Eddie Royal.

The fifth-year receiver caught 91 passes for 980 yards as a rookie in ’08 with the Denver Broncos and has averaged 38 catches for 376 yards since, numbers skewed a bit by Denver’s run-heavy offense last season.

A shifty 5-foot-10 and 185 pounds, Royal averages 11.9 yards per punt return for his career, third in the NFL in that span behind Julian Edelman and Devin Hester. Royal’s 16.2 yards per punt return last season tied him with Hester for the league’s best mark, but his 12 returns fell short of the minimum requirement of 20 to qualify.

Royal is the second receiver to sign in San Diego this week. Robert Meachem signed his four-year contract Wednesday.

Royal’s presence helps solidify San Diego’s receiving corps. Malcom Floyd and Meachem are projected as starters, Head Coach Norv Turner said, and Royal joins promising second-year player Vincent Brown in the mix