With 11 captains on the Rams, the Chargers had a chance to one-up them.
In a perfect metaphor for the L.A. rivalry, they came up short to their landlords at SoFi Stadium.
The Chargers have a mere 10 team captains for 2026. They are, based on the order they appear on the graphic the Chargers posted: linebacker Daiyan Henley, linebacker Tuli Tuipulotu, tackle Joe Alt, quarterback Justin Herbert, cornerback Elijah Molden, receiver Ladd McConkey, safety Derwin James Jr., linebacker Khalil Mack, tackle Rashawn Slater, and long snapper Josh Harris.
Unlike the Rams, which seemed to pick a captain from each position group, the Chargers have two tackles and three linebackers. They have five on defense, four on offense, and one on special teams.
It should be three. Offense, defense, special teams. One for each primary component of the team.
But each team has to make its own decision. If it wants to dilute the honor by taking a participation-trophy approach to handing out the “C” patches, so be it.
Still, the first team that goes with three will receive high praise from this tiny corner of the media ecosystem. Which probably means none will.
Chargers Clips
At this point, it’s unclear whether or not Cardinals rookie running back Jeremiyah Love will be available for Arizona’s season opener.
Per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, Love is “about 50/50” to play Week 1 with an ankle sprain.
Love suffered the injury in Las Vegas’ preseason opener on Aug. 13. He tallied 14 touches in that contest, with 11 rushing attempts for 58 yards and three receptions for 14 yards. Head coach Mike LaFleur said the plan was for Love, the No. 4 overall pick of the year’s draft, to get double-digit touches in that preseason game.
Via Darren Urban of the team’s website, LaFleur said on Monday that Love is “progressing” but did not touch on the running back’s availability for Week 1.
The team’s first injury report for its matchup against the Chargers will be released on Sept. 9.
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert will be practicing with his brother for the first time since they were teammates at Oregon in 2019.
Patrick Herbert, a tight end who was cut by the Jaguars on Sunday, signed with the Chargers’ practice squad on Monday.
The 25-year-old Patrick, who is three years younger than Justin, signed with the Jaguars as an undrafted free agent last year and spent the season on their practice squad. He remained with the Jaguars throughout this offseason.
Patrick spent six seasons at Oregon, playing there from 2019 through 2024. As a freshman he got on the field for two games, while Justin was leading the Ducks to a 12-2 record that culminated in winning the Rose Bowl. During his college career, Patrick caught 31 passes for 388 yards and four touchdowns.
The Chargers terminated the contract of punter JK Scott in a procedural move Sunday. They needed the roster spot for Denzel Perryman until they could move the veteran linebacker to injured reserve on Monday.
Perryman, 33, can return to the team after missing at least the first four games.
He played only 10 games in 2025 due to a high-ankle sprain and a suspension.
Scott will enter his fifth season with the Chargers. He averaged 45 yards on 14 punts in the preseason and allowed a return for a touchdown.
The Chargers also announced their practice squad, and it includes quarterback DJ Uiagalelei. They cut Uiagalelei on Sunday.
Their other additions are linebacker Lander Barton, outside linebacker Andre Carter, defensive lineman Jahmeer Carter, linebacker Junior Colson, running back Gregory Desrosiers, wide receiver Gary Jennings, running back Amar Johnson, center Josh Kaltenberger, cornerback Nikko Reed, wide receiver Devonte Ross, tight end Evan Svoboda, outside linebacker Nadame Tucker, offensive tackle Laekin Vakalahi, cornerback Isas Waxter and defensive lineman Terry Webb.
The Chargers do not have a punter on their initial 53-man roster.
JK Scott was among the players released by the AFC West club on Sunday. Scott spent the last four years with the Chargers and could return if the team does some other roster shuffling, but their plans at the position remain unclear.
RB Jaret Patterson was also released.
The Chargers’ other moves included putting FB/DL Scott Matlock and OL Branson Taylor on injured reserve with the designation to return and moving OT Isaiah World to the reserve/non-football injury list.
WR Sincere Brown, WR Dalevon Campbell, LB Kyle Kennard, S Noah Avinger, LB Lander Barton, LS Peter Bowden, TE Jerand Bradley, LB Andre Carter, DL Jahmeer Carter, WR Liam Clifford, LB Junior Colson, RB Gregory Desrosiers, S Devin Grant, DL Jacobian Guillory, WR JaQuae Jackson, WR Gary Jennings, RB Amar Johnson, LB Emany Johnson, C Josh Kaltenberger, TE Johnny Pascuzzi, S Myles Purchase, LB Garmon Randolph, CB Nikko Reed, CB Eric Rogers, WR Devonte Ross, TE Evan Svoboda, LB Nadame Tucker, QB DJ Uiagalelei, OT Laekin Vakalahi, CB Isas Waxter, and DL Terry Webb were all waived.
Tony Jefferson remains a Charger.
Although the Chargers were expecting to cut Jefferson as one of their moves to get down to 53 players today, they ended up keeping Jefferson on the roster.
According to Adam Schefter, the Chargers decided to keep Jefferson after trading cornerback Avery Smith and defensive lineman TeRah Edwards, which opened up two roster spots.
So, for now anyway, Jefferson remains in Los Angeles and remains a Charger.
The Panthers are acquiring a young defensive lineman.
Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Chargers are trading defensive tackle TeRah Edwards to the Panthers.
Carolina will send Los Angeles a 2028 sixth-round pick to complete the deal.
Edwards, 25, played his college ball at Illinois. He has not yet appeared in a regular-season game.
Edwards now adds some depth to a Carolina defensive unit that is led up front by Derrick Brown.
It appears Trey Lance has won the Chargers’ backup quarterback competition.
Tom Pelissero of Netflix reports that they are waiving DJ Uiagalelei on Sunday. He adds that the Chargers hope to bring him back to the practice squad, but another team could claim Uiagalelei and he could opt to head elsewhere if he is unclaimed.
Uiagalelei spent last season on the Chargers’ practice squad and head coach Jim Harbaugh said a little over a week ago that he was in a tight race with Lance to be the backup to Justin Herbert.
Uiagalelei completed 11 of 18 passes for 141 yards in the preseason finale while Lance did not complete a pass in his two series of work, but the Chargers are apparently sticking with the status quo in the No. 2 spot.
Branson Taylor was in the group of options to start at left guard for the Chargers at one point this summer, but he won’t be an option in the early part of the regular season.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that Taylor will be placed on injured reserve as the Chargers set their initial 53-man roster on Sunday. Taylor suffered an upper-body injury in the team’s second preseason game.
Kayode Awosika is now the likely starter at left guard for Los Angeles. He’ll line up next to Jake Slaughter, who is taking over at center after Tyler Biadasz’s knee injury.
Taylor will have to miss at least four games before he’ll be eligible to return to the lineup. The 2025 sixth-round pick appeared in one game during his rookie season.
UPDATE: The Chargers didn’t cut Tony Jefferson after all.
Longtime NFL safety Tony Jefferson may have reached the end of the line.
The Chargers released the 34-year-old Jefferson today.
Jefferson retired once before, in 2023, spending that season working for the Ravens as a scout. But in 2024 he decided to come out of retirement and signed with the Chargers, and he’s been with them the last two years.
Originally an undrafted rookie with the Cardinals in 2013, Jefferson became a quality starter and had stints with the Cardinals, Ravens, 49ers and Giants.
Now Jefferson will have to decide whether to try to find another team that wants an aging safety, or whether to retire for a second and final time.
