The Los Angeles Chargers’ first 53-man roster came with the usual late-summer shock value, and a few names who looked to have real paths onto the team are suddenly on the wrong side of the cut. Some of these decisions feel temporary, the kind that can shift again as the roster churns over the next few days. But for now, the Chargers have moved on from several players who had made noise throughout camp and preseason.
Junior Colson is the clearest head-scratcher on the list. After missing the 2025 season on injured reserve, he returned to a crowded linebacker group and still gave the Chargers plenty to think about.
His preseason ended with a bang, including a pick-six against the 49ers, and he brought the kind of familiarity with Jim Harbaugh that dates back to Michigan. A former 3rd-round pick, Colson is now officially on the outside after the Chargers waived him.
There was also a strong case for Nikko Reed to stick on the initial roster. Cornerback depth always matters, and it matters even more for a team that could be one injury away from needing help in a hurry.
Reed may not have flashed loudly in the preseason, but the appeal was clear: another dependable option in the secondary and a little extra insurance if the room gets thin. In a spot where bodies disappear fast, that kind of depth can matter.
DJ Uiagalelei is another player who seemed close enough to make the final push. The second-year quarterback, who went from undrafted to making the competition tight, should have had a real chance to land as the backup.
He showed enough arm strength to drive the ball downfield, and while his play wasn’t perfect, the overall arc of his camp suggested real progress. The expectation now is that he lands back on the practice squad, which would mirror what happened last year.
He also showed he can deliver in the big moments, as the Chargers posted his touchdown pass against the @Chargers are pulling away in this one Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/TrbWObal1m
On the defensive front, one young edge rusher also seemed like a player worth keeping around. He stood out in training camp and had months where he looked like a possible high-upside piece for Chris O'Learys. The preseason work could have been sharper, but his talent was evident, and if he doesn’t get another crack elsewhere, the practice squad would make sense.
Then there’s Tucker, a physical, athletic “total unit” who fits the kind of profile coaches usually like to keep in the building. A reunion can’t be ruled out as more information comes out, and that remains part of the conversation here.
At running back, Desrosiers made his case in a big way against the Rams. That performance turned heads, but it wasn’t the only reason people were talking about him.
He flashed throughout camp, and the hope is that he could still be brought back as a fourth back. For now, though, the Chargers have to wait and see whether he clears waivers.
The same goes for the broader picture: the roster is set for the moment, but the names left off it didn’t go quietly.
In Other News...
Former Cowboys Bust Might Get One More Chance To Revive His Career
As the Chargers put the finishing touches on their 53-man roster before Sundays deadline, there could still be a familiar name worth tracking for the practice squad. Defensive tackle Mazi Smith was recently released by the Jets, and if he clears waivers, Los Angeles could look at him as a developmental add for a defensive front that is always searching for useful depth.
Smiths appeal in this kind of spot is less about what he has already proven and more about what the Chargers believe they can still get out of him. A reunion with executive director of player performance Ben Herbert and defensive line coach Mike Elston would give him a setting that could help reset his career, and for the Chargers it would be another low-risk way to test whether a former first-round talent still has something to offer. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Just Signaled A Tough D-Line Decision Before Final Cuts
A productive preseason was still not enough to keep TeRah Edwards in the mix as the Chargers trimmed toward their final roster decisions. Los Angeles dealt the defensive lineman to Carolina for a 2028 sixth-round pick, a move that clears one more body from a crowded defensive front and gives the team a little more flexibility as cutdown day approaches.
For Edwards, the trade ends a brief but noteworthy run with the Chargers after he had done enough in exhibition play to draw attention. For the Chargers, it is another sign that the defensive line picture is coming into focus, with the front office choosing draft capital over keeping another player in a group that had become difficult to sort through. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Final Roster Moves Left Two Notable Decisions Standing
The Chargers spent Tuesday trimming their roster down to 53, a process that sent 32 players out the door and pushed several others onto injured reserve or reserve/non-football injury lists. Even with all the movement, linebacker Junior Colson is still part of the mix, and the 2024 third-round pick has already appeared in 11 games this season as the team sorts through its depth heading into the next stretch.
One of the more notable twists came with safety Tony Jefferson, whose status flipped from an earlier report and left him on the roster after all. For a team that had plenty of decisions to make in the final round of cuts, the last few moves were less about volume and more about the names still standing when the dust settled. [Read more 🡒]