Junior Colson gave the Chargers exactly the kind of jolt he needed on Thursday night.
The former Michigan linebacker, a second-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft, turned a preseason snap into a pick-six early in the third quarter against the 49ers. With his roster spot hanging in the balance, it was the kind of play that can grab attention fast and maybe buy a little more time in a crowded battle for a 53-man roster spot.
Colson’s NFL path has already been knocked off course by injuries. He played in 11 games as a rookie, making one start and finishing with 29 total tackles. Then he missed all of last season on injured reserve, leaving this year as a pivotal one in his Chargers career.
That pressure was part of the backdrop before kickoff. Chargers Wire had listed Colson as one of the players who needed to shine in the preseason game, and he answered with a turnover touchdown that showed the burst and instincts that made him such an appealing prospect coming out of Michigan, where he was an inside linebacker on the 2023 national championship team.
Still, one big play only goes so far. Colson did not record a tackle in the game, and that matters in a fight like this. Special teams could be part of his path to sticking, but if he’s going to make the 53, he’ll need to do more than flash once.
The Chargers’ linebacker room also works against him. They appear to be in decent shape there, especially with some rookies emerging, which could make Colson expendable despite his pedigree and his size at 6-foot-3, 247 pounds. He was viewed as a possible three-down linebacker, but injuries have slowed that trajectory.
The interception came off backup quarterback Adrian Martinez, and the 49ers went on to beat the Chargers 41-17. For Colson, though, the night was about something narrower: keeping his name in the conversation after a pick-six that could give him one more chance.
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