Chargers place JK Dobbins and Alohi Gilman on injured reserve; Sign Tony Jefferson to the active roster

The Los Angeles Chargers placed two players on reserve/injured running back today JK Dobbins and safety Alohi Gilman. In a corresponding move, the team signed a safety Tony Jefferson to the active roster from the practice squad. The Bolts have also stepped up at cornerback DiCaprio Bootle and defender Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste from the training squad for Sunday’s match.

Jefferson He was a productive linebacker throughout his career, starting 67 of 116 regular season games with the Cardinals, Ravens, 49ers, Giants and Chargers. He totaled 468 tackles (351 solo), 9.5 sacks, 34 tackles for loss, four interceptions, 24 passes defended, eight forced fumbles and four recoveries. In his first season with Baltimore in 2017, Jefferson started all 16 contests, setting a career high with 2.5 sacks, adding 79 tackles and passing well. A year later, he set a career high with six pass breakups in 14 starts. He has appeared in six postseason contests in his career, making four starts, and has recorded 38 tackles (22 solo), three tackles for loss and two passes defensed.

Over three seasons (2010–2012) at the University of Oklahoma, Jefferson appeared in 40 games, totaling 258 tackles (180 solo), 7 sacks, 8 interceptions, 13 passes defended, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He burst onto the scene as a freshman, playing in 14 games, recording 65 tackles (44 solo), two interceptions, a fumble recovery and seven pass breakups, earning Freshman All-America recognition as well as Big 12 Co-Defensive Freshman of the Year honors.

Bootle He appeared in five games with the Chargers this season, recording three tackles on special teams. He previously played for the Kansas City Chiefs and Carolina Panthers. For his career, Bootle has recorded 19 tackles (16 solo), two pass breakups and nine special teams tackles in 20 career games. He saw some of his most intense defensive action for Carolina last season, setting career highs in tackles (11), passes defensed (two), games played (eight) and games started (two).

Over four collegiate seasons (2017-20) at the University of Nebraska, Bootle appeared in 44 games. He had 110 tackles (70 solo), an interception and a pair of forced fumbles for the Cornhuskers, starting the final 32 contests of his career. A team captain in his final season in Lincoln, Neb., Bootle was a third-team All-Big Ten selection in 2018 and was a team defensive tackle in 2018 and 2019.

Jean-Baptiste he finished his collegiate career at Mississippi in 2023, ranking fifth on the team with 54 tackles. He added 4.5 tackles for loss, a pass breakup and a pair of quarterback hurries while starting 10 of 13 games for the Rebels. Jean-Baptiste played his first four seasons (2019-22) in Central Florida, where he recorded 152 tackles (97 solo), two sacks, an interception, seven passes defended and a forced fumble.