Chargers Place LB Junior Colson On IR; Taylor Heinicke Among Team’s Cuts
The Chargers placed a key defender on season-ending IR and made a quarterback decision. Here are the Bolts’ moves to reach the 53-man roster limit:
Released:
- CB Harrison Hand
- QB Taylor Heinicke
- S Tony Jefferson
- LB Kana’i Mauga
- RB Nyheim Miller-Hines
- LB Del’Shawn Phillips
- WR Jalen Reagor
- T David Sharpe
Waived:
- G Karsen Barnhart
- DB Trikweze Bridges
- WR Dalevon Campbell
- DL TeRah Edwards
- WR Luke Grimm
- OLB Kylan Guidry
- DL Christopher Hinton
- WR JaQuae Jackson
- LB Emany Johnson
- G Nash Jones
- C Josh Kaltenberger
- TE Stevo Klotz
- OLB Tre’Mon Morris-Brash
- T Ryan Nelson
- CB Myles Purchase
- OLB Garmon Randolph
- WR Brenden Rice
- RB Raheim Sanders
- CB Nehemiah Shelton
- DL Nesta Jade Silvera
- T Corey Stewart
- G Branson Taylor
- QB DJ Uiagalelei
- RB Kimani Vidal
- TE Thomas Yassmin
Waived/injured:
- WR Jaylen Johnson
- S Jaylen Jones
- RB Jaret Patterson
Placed on IR:
Placed on IR (return designation):
- LS Josh Harris
- DB Deane Leonard
It is not known what injury Colson suffered — teams do not have to disclose injuries until Week 1 — but this is a significant setback for the former Jim Harbaugh Michigan pupil. Colson entered training camp with a chance to earn the starting linebacker job alongside Daiyan Henley; instead, he will miss the season. Harris and Leonard will be eligible to return from IR after four games; their IR-return placements drop the Bolts’ injury activation count from eight to six.
It is possible the Chargers circle back to Heinicke, who is a vested veteran. A practice squad stashing could make sense, but Trey Lance is also a vested veteran now. The Bolts are keeping the former No. 3 overall pick on their 53-man roster, while Heinicke’s status is uncertain. The Chargers re-signed Heinicke to a one-year, $2.5MM deal. They are positioned to eat $2MM in dead money due to the guarantees given to their 2024 backup.
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/20/25
Here are today’s minor NFL moves to close out the weekend:
Chicago Bears
- Activated from active/NFI: QB Case Keenum
Denver Broncos
- Placed on active/PUP: WR A.T. Perry
Los Angeles Chargers
- Activated from active/PUP: WR Jaylen Johnson, S Elijah Molden
New England Patriots
- Signed: DT David Olajiga
Olajiga, a London native, joins the roster as part of the NFL’s International Pathway Program. The 27-year-old spent the 2024 season on the Rams’ practice squad as an IPP athlete, as well, but didn’t find his way to the field.
Keenum, Johnson, and Molden all passed physicals today, permitting their respective teams to active them off of their injured lists.
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/14/25
NFL teams are beginning to adjust their rosters as players report for training camp. Here are the latest minor moves from around the league:
Carolina Panthers
- Waived (with injury settlement): WR Moose Muhammad
Las Vegas Raiders
- Waived: QB Carter Bradley
Los Angeles Chargers
- Placed on active/PUP: S Elijah Molden, WR Mike Williams, WR Jaylen Johnson, LB Del’Shawn Phillips, OT Savion Washington
Molden ended the 2024 season on injured reserve after suffering a broken fibula in Week 17. He re-signed with the Chargers this offseason and was expected to be ready for training camp after offseason surgery. However, his placement on the PUP list indicates that he needs more time before returning to the field. The reason for the other PUP placements is unknown, as teams are not required to report injuries during the offseason. The five Chargers placed on the PUP list can be activated at any time.
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/13/25
Many teams have started signing players to reserve/futures contracts, allowing the organization to retain (routinely) young, practice squad players through the offseason. Here are the latest reserve/futures contracts:
Arizona Cardinals
- CB Ekow Boye-Doe, LB Elliott Brown, OL McClendon Curtis
Cleveland Browns
- DT Ralph Holley
Denver Broncos
- LB K.J. Cloyd, OLB Andrew Farmer, G Nick Gargiulo, DE Matt Henningsen, DB Tanner McCalister, NT Jordan Miller, CB Quinton Newsome, WR A.T. Perry, OL William Sherman, DB Keidron Smith, CB Reese Taylor, G Calvin Throckmorton, TE Thomas Yassmin
Green Bay Packers
- DL Deslin Alexandre, S Omar Brown, DL James Ester, CB Kamal Hadden, K Alex Hale, G Marquis Hayes, WR Julian Hicks, OL Donovan Jennings, WR Cornelius Johnson, CB Kalen King, DL Jeremiah Martin, TE Messiah Swinson
Los Angeles Chargers
- G Karsen Barnhart, TE McCallan Castles, WR Dez Fitzpatrick, DL Christopher Hinton, LB Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste, WR Jaylen Johnson, LB Tre’Mon Morris-Brash, LB Caleb Murphy, RB Jaret Patterson, S Kendall Williamson
Pittsburgh Steelers
- OT Doug Nester
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/26/24
Saturdays minor moves, including standard gameday practice squad elevations:
Arizona Cardinals
- Elevated: DL Ben Stille, CB Divaad Wilson
Atlanta Falcons
- Elevated: CB Natrone Brooks, DE Demone Harris
Baltimore Ravens
- Activated from IR: CB Jalyn Armour-Davis
- Elevated: CB Bump Cooper Jr.
- Placed on IR: CB T.J. Tampa
Buffalo Bills
- Elevated: DT Eli Ankou, WR Jalen Virgil
Chicago Bears
- Activated from IR: RB Travis Homer, DE Jacob Martin
- Elevated: S Tarvarius Moore
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed to active roster: CB Amani Oruwariye
- Elevated: RB Dalvin Cook (story)
- Placed on IR: TE John Stephens (story)
Denver Broncos
- Elevated: LB Kwon Alexander, G Calvin Throckmorton
Detroit Lions
- Elevated: OLB Al-Quadin Muhammad, TE Shane Zylstra
Green Bay Packers
- Elevated: CB Robert Rochell
Houston Texans
- Elevated: FB Troy Hairston
Kansas City Chiefs
- Elevated: WR Montrell Washington
Las Vegas Raiders
- Elevated: QB Carter Bradley, TE Justin Shorter
Los Angeles Chargers
- Elevated: WR Jaylen Johnson, WR Jalen Reagor
New England Patriots
- Elevated: LB Ochaun Mathis
New Orleans Saints
- Signed to active roster: S Ugo Amadi
- Elevated: WR Equanimeous St. Brown, S Roderic Teamer
- Waived: RB Jordan Mims
New York Jets
- Elevated: OL Alec Lindstrom, S Jarius Monroe
Philadelphia Eagles
- Activated from IR: WR Ainias Smith
San Francisco 49ers
- Elevated: S Adrian Amos, K Anders Carlson
Seattle Seahawks
- Activated from IR: S Jerrick Reed II
- Elevated: CB Faion Hicks, CB Josh Jobe
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Activated from IR: WR Rakim Jarrett
- Elevated: QB Michael Pratt
Tennessee Titans
- Signed to active roster: CB Gabe Jeudy-Lally, WR Mason Kinsey, T John Ojukwu
- Elevated: RB Joshua Kelley, QB Trevor Siemian
- Placed on IR: T Jaelyn Duncan
- Waived: OLB Caleb Murphy
Chargers Waive RB Isaiah Spiller, T Alex Leatherwood; Get Down To 53
The Chargers made their way down to 53 players today with a number of waives and releases:
Released:
Waived:
- G Karsen Barnhart
- TE Luke Benson
- DL Jerrod Clark
- S Akeem Dent
- RB Elijah Dotson
- OLB Andrew Farmer
- TE Tucker Fisk
- WR Jaelen Gill
- LB Frank Ginda
- CB Matt Hankins
- S Thomas Harper
- TE Zach Heins
- DL Christopher Hinton
- OLB Savion Jackson
- LB Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste
- WR Cornelius Johnson
- WR Jaylen Johnson
- CB Robert Kennedy
- C Brent Laing
- T Alex Leatherwood
- LB Shane Lee
- OLB Tre’Mon Morris-Brash
- DL C.J. Okoye
- G Willis Patrick
- QB Luis Perez
- S Jalyn Phillips
- TE Isaac Rex
- OLB Ty Shelby
- RB Isaiah Spiller
- CB Zamari Walton
- WR Isaiah Wooden
Placed on IR:
- OLB Chris Collins
- T Tyler McLellan
- OLB Chris Rumph
- IOL Bucky Williams
Placed on IR (designated for return):
- LB Nick Niemann
There aren’t too many surprises here. Of the veterans, Parham fell victim to the addition of two veteran receiving options, and Quarterman was a long-time special teamer.
Michigan wide receiver Johnson was the only drafted rookie who failed to make the roster after being selected in the seventh round. While no undrafted rookies made the roster either, McLellan and Williams will stick around on the IR, where they will remain out for the year. Niemann will have the option to be activated after four games.
The biggest cuts we otherwise see are Spiller, who got some run as a depth option at running back last year, and Leatherwood. Leatherwood, the former first-round pick out of Alabama, continues to struggle to find his place in the NFL.
Chargers Agree To Terms With 21 UDFAs
The Chargers’ roster is set to look very different in 2024. With the departure of key players such as Austin Ekeler, Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Gerald Everett, Kenneth Murray, Austin Johnson, and several others, Los Angeles had plenty of room on the roster for this summer, even after selecting a nine-man class in the 2024 NFL Draft. To fill out the roster, the Chargers turned to these undrafted free agents:
- Karsen Barnhart, G (Michigan)
- Casey Bauman, QB (Augustana)
- Luke Benson, TE (Georgia Tech)
- Akeem Dent, S (Florida State)
- Jaelen Gill, WR (Fresno State)
- Thomas Harper, S (Notre Dame)
- Zach Heins, TE (South Dakota State)
- Savion Jackson, OLB (North Carolina State)
- Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste, LB (Mississippi)
- Leon Johnson, WR (Oklahoma State)
- Jaylen Johnson, WR (East Carolina)
- Robert Kennedy, CB (North Carolina State)
- Micheal Mason, DL (Coastal Carolina)
- Tremon Morris-Brash, OLB (Central Florida)
- Tyler McLellan, T (Campbell)
- Willis Patrick, G (TCU)
- Jalyn Phillips, S (Clemson)
- Tyler Smith, T (Western Carolina)
- Zamari Walton, CB (Mississippi)
- Luquay Washington, LB (Central Connecticut)
- Bucky Williams, C/G (Appalachian State)
Barnhart brings an intriguing versatility to a new Chargers offense led by offensive coordinator Greg Roman. Roman loves a guy who can play all over the line (see Patrick Mekari in Baltimore), and Barnhart started games at every offensive line spot but center during his time with the national champion Wolverines. In the team’s championship-winning season alone, Barnhart started eight games at right tackle, four games at left tackle, and three games at right guard en route to second-team All-Big Ten honors.
Heins is another great fit for a Roman offense. Helping the Jackrabbits to back-to-back FCS national championships, Heins established himself as a starter due to his in-line blocking abilities. While, in his three years as a full-time starter, he only racked up 989 receiving yards, he also tallied 17 touchdowns in that same stretch.
The team adds two intriguing options at safety, as well. Harper started for the Fighting Irish as a transfer after four years at Oklahoma State. He didn’t make may plays on balls in the air but showed versatility as a nickel option and a blitzer. Dent, a one-time five-star recruit as a junior in high school, has tons of athleticism, he’s just never been able to convert it into on-field production.
Ben Levine contributed to this post.