Chargers Clips
The relocated flag football tournament, which has moved from Saudi Arabia to L.A. due to the war in the Middle East, has added more participants.
Via Sports Business Journal, Fanatics announced the full roster of players earlier this week.
In addition to the active NFL players previously named (Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, Eagles running back Saquon Barkley), more current pro football players will take part: Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty, Eagles receiver DeVonta Smith, Saints running back Alvin Kamara, Rams receiver Davante Adams, 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk, Chargers safety Derwin James Jr., and Steelers safety Jalen Ramsey.
Several current free agents also will play: Von Miller, DeAndre Hopkins, Deebo Samuel, and Stefon Diggs.
The recent pivot to the inclusion of the U.S. men’s national flag football team as one of the three teams in the tournament likely will make the tournament more competitive. The flag players will hope to show they are better suited to represent the United States in the Olympics in 2028.
That will do nothing to reduce the risk of injury associated with the event. If the free agents haven’t signed by March 21, any sort of injury could complicate their effort to find a new NFL team.
And, yes, the risk of injury is lower than the risk they assume when suiting up and playing full-contact tackle football. There’s still risk, as promising young NFL running back Robert Edwards once learned the very hard way.
The two teams of current and former NFL players and various non-football players will be picked from the pool of players on March 19.
Tom Brady is the ringleader of the tournament. And, as one team executive recently opined, there’s no way Tom Brady would be playing in a flag football tournament if he was still playing in the NFL.
Regardless, the flag football tournament, which will be televised by Fox, could be interesting extra-screen viewing during the second round of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.
Veteran linebacker Denzel Perryman is set to sign another contract with the Chargers.
Agent Ron Butler told Ian Rapoport of NFL Media that Perryman will re-sign with the AFC West club. It is a one-year deal for Perryman for his 12th NFL season.
Perryman started 10 regular season games last season while missing time due to injury and suspension. He also started the team’s playoff loss to the Patriots. He had 47 tackles in the regular season and four in the postseason game.
Perryman also started 11 games for the Chargers in 2023 and he made 51 starts in a six-year stint with the team to open his career. He’s also played for the Raiders and Texans, but won’t be adding another team to that list in 2026.
Running back Keaton Mitchell played for John Harbaugh for the last three seasons and he’s set to play for Jim Harbaugh in 2026.
According to multiple reports, Mitchell has agreed to terms with the Chargers. It’s a two-year deal worth $9.25 million with $5 million in guaranteed money.
Mitchell made the Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2023 and flashed big-play potential by averaging 8.4 yards per carry during his rookie season. A knee injury cut that year short, however, and Mitchell played just five games in 2024 before returning to average 5.8 yards per carry in 13 appearances for Baltimore last season.
The Ravens did not tender Mitchell as a restricted free agent, however, and the Chargers will now team him with Omarion Hampton and Kimani Vidal in their backfield.
The Chargers will be bringing back core special teamer Del’Shawn Phillips.
Tom Pelissero of NFL Media reports that Phillips has agreed to a new contract. It is a two-year deal worth $7.5 million and includes incentives that can increase the total value of the pact by another $3 million.
Phillips signed with the Chargers last season and played 80 percent of the special teams snaps while playing sparingly on defense. He had 39 tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery in the 18 games the Chargers played during the regular season and playoffs.
Phillips has also played for the Texans, Ravens, Jets and Bills.
The Chargers are re-signing veteran offensive lineman Trey Pipkins to a two-year, $10 million deal, Tom Pelissero of NFL Media. Pipkins can earn up to $12M with playtime incentives.
Pipkins, 29, arrived with the team as a third-round pick in 2019. He has spent his entire seven-year career with the Chargers.
In 2025, Pipkins played 13 games, starting 10, on an injury-plagued offensive line. Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt are returning from season-ending injuries, so Pipkins’ return provides the Chargers with insurance.
He has appeared in 97 games, with 66 starts, in his career.
Pipkins has played 4,459 offensive snaps.
The Chargers are bringing back one of their top special teams players.
Tom Pelissero of NFL Media reports that they have agreed to a one-year deal with defensive back Deane Leonard. No financial terms have been reported.
Leonard joined the Chargers as a 2022 seventh-round pick and he’s appeared in 46 regular season games over his four seasons with the team, but injuries led to stints on injured reserve the last two years.
Leonard has recorded 46 tackles, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery since joining the Chargers. He also has three tackles and an interception in three postseason appearances.
After arriving in Los Angeles just before the trade deadline last season, Chargers offensive lineman Trevor Penning will stick around in 2026.
The Chargers announced today that they have reached an agreement on a new deal with Penning, who hit free agency and was free to agree to terms with any team.
Last year the Chargers sent a 2027 sixth-round pick to the Saints for Penning, and he started four of the final games of the season for the Chargers. He’ll compete for a starting job this year as well.
Penning was originally a first-round pick of the Saints in 2022, and although he didn’t quite live up to expectations, the Chargers are optimistic that he can become a big part of protecting Justin Herbert this year.
Free agent cornerback Benjamin St-Juste is on the move to Green Bay.
St-Juste has agreed to a two-year, $10 million deal with the Packers, according to NFL Network.
The 28-year-old St-Juste was originally a 2021 third-round pick of the Commanders. He played in Washington for four years before signing a one-year contract with the Chargers last year.
St-Juste provided depth in the secondary for the Chargers last year, playing about one-third of snaps on defense while also being one of their top contributors on special teams. The Packers likely see him in a similar role in 2026.
The Chiefs, who have lost several defensive backs in recent days, have added one.
Via NFL Media, Kansas City has agreed to terms with Ravens safety Alohi Gilman. It’s a three-year, $24.75 million deal, with $15 million fully guaranteed.
Gilman was a sixth-round pick of the Chargers in 2020. He was traded to the Ravens during the 2025 season, as part of the Odafe Oweh trade.
Gilman, who played college football at Notre Dame, started five games for the Chargers last year, and 12 for the Ravens. For his career, he has 85 regular-season appearances and 51 starts.
He agrees to terms on the same day former Chiefs safety Bryan Cook agreed to terms with the Bengals.
A former Dolphins offensive lineman will be joining his former head coach in L.A.
Via Adam Schefter of ESPN, Cole Strange has agreed to terms with the Chargers. It’s reportedly a two-year, $13 million deal.
A first-round pick of the Patriots in 2022, Strange was released not long before the start of his third season. He landed on Cleveland’s practice squad before being signed to Miami’s active roster in September.
Last year, Strange appeared in 14 games (all starts) in Miami.
Strange started all 17 games as a rookie in 2022. In late 2023, he suffered a torn patellar tendon. The next year, he wasn’t ready to play until late in the season.
