The Chargers made two roster moves as training camp got rolling, bringing back long snapper Peter Bowden and moving on from veteran guard Ben Cleveland.
Bowden’s arrival gives Los Angeles another body and another live competition at a spot that rarely grabs headlines unless something goes wrong. The 25-year-old has already spent time around the Chargers, which should help him hit the ground running.
He first joined the organization in 2025, landing on the practice squad before earning a reserve/future contract in January. The team later waived him in the offseason, but now he’s back in the mix as camp opens.
His path to this point has been a winding one. The former Wisconsin standout entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2024 and has since spent time with the Green Bay Packers and Jacksonville Jaguars. He also got work in the UFL with the Michigan Panthers before resurfacing in Los Angeles.
For the Chargers, the move is about depth, familiarity, and competition. Bowden now has a chance to prove he can stick at the professional level, and his previous time in the building gives him a clear edge in learning the operation quickly.
To create that roster spot, Los Angeles released Cleveland, a former third-round pick out of Georgia who had joined the Chargers earlier this year after four seasons with the Baltimore Ravens. Like Bowden, he had signed with the practice squad in 2025 and later inked a reserve/future contract in January, setting him up to compete for a backup role along the interior of the offensive line.
That opportunity never turned into a regular-season appearance. Cleveland headed into camp with an uphill climb, especially with more competition and a younger offensive line group coming out of the draft.
Now 27, Cleveland goes back into free agency searching for his next landing spot, while the Chargers keep sorting through the roster as they build toward a critical 2026 campaign. Training camp is only just underway, and Los Angeles has made it clear that every spot is up for grabs.
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