Chargers Place LB Junior Colson On IR; Taylor Heinicke Among Team’s Cuts

The Chargers placed a key defender on season-ending IR and made a quarterback decision. Here are the Bolts’ moves to reach the 53-man roster limit:

Released:

• CB Harrison Hand
• QB Taylor Heinicke
• S Tony Jefferson
• LB Kana’i Mauga
• RB Nyheim Miller-Hines
• LB Del’Shawn Phillips
• WR Jalen Reagor
• T David Sharpe

Waived:

• G Karsen Barnhart
• DB Trikweze Bridges
• WR Dalevon Campbell
• DL TeRah Edwards
• WR Luke Grimm
• OLB Kylan Guidry
• DL Christopher Hinton
• WR JaQuae Jackson
• LB Emany Johnson
• G Nash Jones
• C Josh Kaltenberger
• TE Stevo Klotz
• OLB Tre’Mon Morris-Brash
• T Ryan Nelson
• CB Myles Purchase
• OLB Garmon Randolph
• WR Brenden Rice
• RB Raheim Sanders
• CB Nehemiah Shelton
• DL Nesta Jade Silvera
• T Corey Stewart
• G Branson Taylor
• QB DJ Uiagalelei
• RB Kimani Vidal
• TE Thomas Yassmin

Waived/injured:

• WR Jaylen Johnson
• S Jaylen Jones
• RB Jaret Patterson

Placed on IR:

• LB Junior Colson

Placed on IR (return designation):

• LS Josh Harris
• DB Deane Leonard

It is not known what injury Colson suffered — teams do not have to disclose injuries until Week 1 — but this is a significant setback for the former Jim Harbaugh Michigan pupil. Colson entered training camp with a chance to earn the starting linebacker job alongside Daiyan Henley; instead, he will miss the season. Harris and Leonard will be eligible to return from IR after four games; their IR-return placements drop the Bolts’ injury activation count from eight to six.

It is possible the Chargers circle back to Heinicke, who is a vested veteran. A practice squad stashing could make sense, but Trey Lance is also a vested veteran now. The Bolts are keeping the former No. 3 overall pick on their 53-man roster, while Heinicke’s status is uncertain. The Chargers re-signed Heinicke to a one-year, $2.5MM deal. They are positioned to eat $2MM in dead money due to the guarantees given to their 2024 backup.