The Chargers elevated offensive tackle Foster Sarell and safety Marcus Williams from the practice squad for Saturday’s game against the Texans.
Sarell has appeared in six games for the Chargers this season, starting at right guard in Week 9 against the Titans. He has made four starts in 41 regular-season game appearances with the team since 2022.
Sarell came into the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Ravens in 2021 before joining the Chargers later that year.
Williams, an eight-year veteran, has played the past two games for the Chargers. He has seven tackles in 73 defensive snaps and two on special teams.
He entered the NFL as a second-round pick of the Saints in 2017 and has started 116 games and played in four others in his career, including the postseason.
Williams has totaled 468 tackles, five tackles for loss, 20 interceptions, 56 passes defensed, three fumble recoveries and a sack in his career.
The team also announced it signed tight end Tanner McLachlan to the practice squad. He previously spent time on the Chargers’ practice squad this season.
The Bengals made him a sixth-round pick in 2024, and he played two games as a rookie for Cincinnati.
The Texans signed safety K’Von Wallace from the practice squad to the active roster, the team announced Friday.
Wallace signed to the team’s practice squad on Nov. 13, and they elevated him to the game-day roster for Week 15. He played 13 special teams snaps against the Cardinals but had no stats.
That is his only game action of 2025.
He has played 72 games, with 19 starts, in six seasons, seeing action with the Eagles, Cardinals, Titans, Seahawks and Texans.
The Texans waived cornerback Ameer Speed in a corresponding move and also announced they elevated defensive tackle Leki Fotu and offensive guard Sidy Sow.
Cornerback Ajani Carter (hamstring), defensive end Darrell Taylor (knee) and wide receiver Justin Watson (calf) will not travel with the team to Los Angeles and are ruled out for Saturday’s game against the Chargers.
The NFL playoff picture has largely taken shape, with 11 of the 14 playoff berths clinched. And the other three playoff berths could all be clinched by Sunday.
We already know that six of the NFC playoff teams will be the Seahawks, Bears, Eagles, 49ers, Rams and Packers. The seventh NFC playoff team will be either the Panthers or Buccaneers.
And we know that five of the AFC playoff teams will be the Broncos, Patriots, Jaguars, Chargers and Bills. One of the two remaining spots will go to either the Steelers or Ravens, and the other will go to either the Texans or Colts.
The Panthers can clinch the seventh and final NFC playoff berth if they win and the Buccaneers lose on Sunday.
The Steelers will clinch one of the AFC playoff berths if they win or the Ravens lose, and the Texans will clinch the other AFC playoff berth if they win or the Colts lose.
Knowing all 14 playoff teams wouldn’t render Week 18 totally meaningless, as there would still be jockeying for playoff seeding, but it would mean a lot of teams won’t have anything to play for in the final weekend of the season. Week 18 could be a rather anticlimactic conclusion to the regular season, and a slow week before the start of the playoffs.
The Texans will be missing at least one of their starting offensive tackles when they face the Chargers on Saturday.
Right tackle Trent Brown was ruled out on the team’s final injury report before the game. Brown missed practice all week with ankle and knee injuries.
They could also be without left tackle Aireontae Ersery. The rookie is listed as questionable with a thumb injury that kept him out of practice on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Cornerback Ajani Carter (hamstring), defensive lineman Darrell Taylor (ankle), and wide receiver Justin Watson (calf) are all listed as questionable to be activated from injured reserve.
Linebacker Jamal Hill (calf, wrist) has been ruled out along with Brown.
The Chargers have listed three players as questionable for Saturday’s game against the Texans.
Running back Kimani Vidal is part of that group. Vidal is dealing with a neck injury that kept him from practicing on Tuesday and Wednesday. He was estimated to be a limited participant on Thursday.
Right guard Mekhi Becton (knee) and defensive tackle Teair Tart (groin) are also carrying questionable designations into the game.
The Chargers ruled out wide receiver Derius Davis (ankle), safety RJ Mickens (shoulder), offensive lineman Jemaree Salyer (hamstring), and cornerback Benjamin St-Juste (shoulder). Quarterback Justin Herbert (left hand) and edge rusher Bud Dupree (back) are among other players on the report who have no injury designations.
