The Chargers made another notable change to their practice squad, and this one surprised plenty of people who expected Nadame Tucker to stick around longer.
Tucker, a 26-year-old rookie EDGE from Western Michigan, arrived in Los Angeles after leading the FBS in sacks and going undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft. His path to the Chargers made sense from the start: his college defensive coordinator, Chris O'Leary, is now the Bolts’ defensive coordinator, so the fit looked natural when he signed as an undrafted free agent.
Early on, Tucker gave the team reasons to keep watching. Practice reports during training camp said he flashed regularly, and that opened the door for a possible spot on the 53-man roster. The opportunity was there, especially with Kyle Kennard dealing with an injury and not showing much NFL-level play, while Andre Carter II did not arrive in camp until the final month.
But preseason games changed the picture. Tucker never delivered the kind of splash plays that would have stamped his film as an NFL EDGE, and that left the Chargers with enough reason to move on during cutdown day. He was then brought back on the practice squad, which looked like the likely landing spot for him through the 2026 season.
That did not last long.
After only a few days on the practice squad, Tucker was released in favor of Caleb Murphy, who spent last season with the Chargers before his midseason release. Murphy’s earlier departure had frustrated many fans, especially after he looked strong in the preseason and contributed as a special teams role player.
Tucker ended up being the odd man out over Carter II, who had been with the team for no more than two months at the time of the move.
For now, the Chargers have made it clear that connections alone will not guarantee a spot. Tucker’s release reinforces that competitors are truly welcome in Los Angeles, even if he seemed like a logical holdover. Hopefully, he gets another opportunity elsewhere, because his story of perseverance deserves to continue.
In Other News...
Chargers Suddenly Have A Backfield Concern They Cant Shrug Off
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General manager Joe Hortiz said Mitchell is working through an issue but nothing major, and that kind of wording usually signals a team that wants to be careful rather than alarmed. Even so, the Chargers may have to handle his status with extra caution because of his injury history, and with the rest of the roster already absorbing significant blows, any uncertainty in the backfield becomes part of a bigger picture. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Linked To Bold QB Move Behind Justin Herbert
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It is the kind of idea that makes sense on a few different levels for a team already built around Herbert, since it would give the Chargers a developmental backup with familiarity built in. For now, though, it remains just a projection, and the more interesting question is whether Minnesota would be willing to part with a young passer before Los Angeles even gets a real chance to test the market. [Read more 🡒]
Jim Harbaugh Practice Clip Went Viral For The Wrong Reason
A routine Chargers practice clip turned into a talking point for all the wrong reasons this week, after Jim Harbaugh and Mike McDaniel were captured in the middle of a quarterback handoff drill discussion. The exchange itself was about the basics - footwork, timing and how to clean up the handoff mechanics - as the staff continues working with Justin Herbert on the little details that matter when the season gets going.
Social media, though, had other ideas. Instead of focusing on the coaching detail in the video, attention quickly landed on Harbaughs wide-legged stance, which became the unexpected headline from a session that was supposed to be about refinement and repetition. For the Chargers, the real point remains the same: getting Herberts handoffs aligned and the offense sharper before the games begin. [Read more 🡒]