The Chargers weren’t done tinkering after setting their 53-man roster. Joe Hortiz kept the bottom of the roster moving this week, and by Wednesday the practice squad had already taken on a new look with several fresh additions and a few names out the door.
The latest wave started with tight end Patrick Herbert, who signed Tuesday to fill the final spot on the practice squad after the Chargers initially added 16 players Monday, including an International Pathway Player who does not count toward the total. Herbert is the younger brother of Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, and he brings a very specific skill set to the room.
At Oregon, he was known more as the second blocking tight end alongside Terrance Ferguson or Kenyon Sadiq, and that willingness to do the dirty work should fit a depth chart that leans pass-catcher heavy. Justin also worked with Patrick between OTAs and training camp to dial in his new footwork.
The other move that had been reported earlier finally became official, too: former first-round cornerback Kaiir Elam is now on the practice squad. Elam joins a Chargers defensive staff that has already shown a knack for helping players find their footing again, and defensive backs coach Steve Clinkscale will get another project to mold.
The Buffalo Bills drafted Elam in the first round, but he may have been taken a little high and then had to carry expectations that were probably too heavy. On the practice squad, he should get time to learn, settle in, and develop.
Los Angeles also added two more players on Wednesday. Former Miami Dolphins wide receiver Theo Wease and former fourth-round Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Jordan Jefferson both joined the practice squad. In the corresponding moves, the Chargers released cornerback Isas Waxter, rookie wide receiver Devonte Ross, and rookie defensive lineman Jahmeer Carter.
Wease went undrafted out of Missouri after the 2025 draft, then signed with Miami. The Fresno, California, native is a bigger receiver and is now back with offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel. He also brings some real game experience, having played the final three weeks of the 2025 season and finishing with 10 receptions for 139 yards.
Jefferson, meanwhile, has already bounced around a bit. After being drafted by Jacksonville in the fourth round, he spent time with the San Francisco 49ers and most recently the Cincinnati Bengals. He also shares a college connection with Chargers first-round pick Akheem Mesidor, since both were teammates at West Virginia.
Hortiz and the Chargers front office are clearly still hunting for ways to squeeze more out of the roster, practice squad included. There is reportedly one more practice squad addition pending, and a reunion with edge rusher Caleb Murphy was said to be agreed to.
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Chargers Add Another Mike McDaniel Connection Fans Should Keep An Eye On
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Wease also brings a small but notable connection to Mike McDaniels orbit, having spent time with the Miami Dolphins under the offensive coordinator before landing in Los Angeles. He got into one game last season and found the end zone, a reminder that even a practice squad addition can carry a little upside if the right opening comes along. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Suddenly Have A Week 1 Problem At Linebacker
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Los Angeles does have options on the depth chart, with Troy Dye, DelShawn Phillips and Marlowe Wax all in the mix for snaps, but the team has not publicly settled on who will take over the job. For a defense that wants stability right away, the bigger issue may be how quickly someone can step in and look the part while Perryman works his way back. [Read more 🡒]
Justin Herbert Enters Week 1 With Chargers Pressure Already Building
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Herbert was also named one of the Chargers captains, another sign that the organization is leaning on him not just for production, but for tone-setting as the season begins. The pressure around him does not need a number attached to it to be understood, especially with the opener arriving and expectations always trailing the Chargers wherever they go. What remains to be seen is how much of that quiet confidence in Herbert and the offense shows up once the games count. [Read more 🡒]