Chargers exercise 5th-year option on D.J. Fluker

The San Diego Chargers have exercised their fifth-year option on guard D.J. Fluker's contract, the team announced Friday.

Fluker is now under contract through the 2017 season, with the option giving him an $8.821-million salary for that year.

The 25-year-old was selected by the Chargers with the 11th overall pick in the 2013 NFL draft and he spent the first two seasons of his career at right tackle before transitioning to guard.

Despite his high draft pedigree, it's likely that Fluker will remain at guard, although the team has admitted that they won't rule out pushing him back outside again.

Fluker missed four games last season, missing one game early in the season due to an ankle injury before a concussion forced him to sit for three games in the latter part of the campaign.

An inability to stay healthy was a running theme for San Diego's offensive line in 2015, but with a strong core of talent, the team should be able to field an effective unit in 2016 if it can keep its starting unit intact.