The Los Angeles Chargers’ season ended a little too early for Benjamin St-Juste’s liking, but the Quebec cornerback says he is grateful to have been able to live this new experience, which allowed him to regain all his confidence.
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In 2024, St-Juste completed a four-season stay with the Washington Commanders. His first steps in the NFL, from 2021 to 2023, were overall very encouraging. However, by his own admission, his last season in the American capital was very difficult on an individual level.
Last March, the former Cégep du Vieux Montréal bet on himself when he signed a one-year agreement with the Chargers on the free agent market.
“I loved it!” reacted St-Juste during an interview with The Journalthree days after his team’s elimination in the first round of the playoffs, at the hands of the New England Patriots.
“The plan that was sold to me when I was a free agent was that I was going to come in as a veteran to help a young group of cornerbacks. I was promised that I was going to have playing time and that I was going to perform. All that happened, so for me, it was an incredible experience,” he added.
Maximized opportunities
St-Juste saw less of the field than in the past, but he looked better by bouncing back nicely from his difficult season. Although he only got two starts, he took part in 16 games, during which he made his second career interception, in addition to recording 37 tackles.
“It revived me as a player. Last year had been more difficult. When you’re in a period like that, it’s like all the team’s miseries fall on your back. When I left, I became a bit of a scapegoat. I began to doubt myself and wonder if it was all my fault.
“Arriving here, in Los Angeles, and playing well and then winning, I quickly realized that it was just my imagination that was starting to take control of my thoughts,” rejoiced St-Juste, who never hides his emotions.
Even though he took part in 35% of his team’s defensive plays, a lower ratio than in Washington, he has evolved on special teams and says he is satisfied with his use.
“I was able to maximize my opportunities. I demonstrated that in 2024 in Washington, this was an anomaly. We see that I still have all the talent that we saw at the start of my career.
“The season I had allowed me to win financially, but above all psychologically. I was able to regain my identity. I didn’t let the narrative around me affect me. It allowed me to reinvent myself as a player,” he said.
Still free as air
Like last year, St-Juste will find himself a free agent in March unless he extends his association with the team by the market opening on March 11. He would like to return to the Chargers, but will give himself time to evaluate his options.
“I definitely keep that door open. I loved the team and I loved Los Angeles. There is a business side that will also influence my decision. Will our defensive coordinator and position coach stay? And how much are they willing to give me as a veteran player? You look at all that, but I loved everything here.”
Among the leading teams
Benjamin St-Juste says he is convinced that the Chargers have everything they need to be among the best teams on the Goodell circuit next season.
The cornerback does not know if he will be part of the plans, but after his individual meetings, he liked the message that was given to him.
“At the right price, they absolutely want to bring me back. They are aware that during the free agent period, several teams will want to talk to me. Everyone told me I was a good player and a good leader with an exceptional attitude,” he said.
St-Juste says he is convinced that with a healthy team, the Chargers could have made a lot of noise. They won 11 times for the second year in a row.
“There are a lot of negative people who will just say that we choke in the playoffs, but many would have given up in the middle of the season complaining that players were missing.
“Once in the playoffs, we just couldn’t push under the carpet the fact that our two star blockers were not there to protect our quarterback Justin Herbert. It was sure that it was going to catch up with us,” he reflected.
No complex
According to him, neither the Broncos, who won the West division ahead of the Chargers, nor the Patriots, who eliminated the St-Juste gang, are clearly superior.
“No not at all! We were missing pieces offensively. We had to cancel a lot of plays in our book because we couldn’t protect our quarterback. I don’t think we would have lost against these clubs with our healthy roster. If I come back next year, I’m very confident that I can win our division.”
Otherwise, St-Juste savored his experience with respected veterans like Khalil Mack and Derwin James.
“They rally everyone with incredible energy every day. When it was over, I made sure to have their jerseys signed because they are going to end up in the Hall of Fame,” he smiled.
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