After losing one safety to injury, the Chargers have added a veteran to the practice squad. Per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the team has placed Marcus Maye on injured reserve. Meanwhile, the team announced that they’ve added Eddie Jackson to the taxi squad. To make room, the team has released running back John Kelly.
Maye suffered an ankle injury that knocked him out of last Thursday’s game. His placement on IR means he’s done for the regular season, but he could make a return if the Chargers make a postseason run.
The Chargers represent Maye’s third team over the past 12 months. He was cut by the Saints back in February and caught on with the Dolphins, where he proceeded to start three of his 11 appearances. The veteran mostly played behind Jevon Holland and Jordan Poyer, and with the Dolphins needing to squeeze out some extra roster space, Maye was let go last month.
He was quickly scooped up by the Chargers, who were dealing with injuries in their safeties room. Maye’s addition coincided with Alohi Gilman‘s placement on IR, and the midseason acquisition has seen his fair share of snaps. In total, Maye has seen time in 112 defensive snaps in four games with the Chargers. Tony Jefferson saw an uptick in playing time when Maye exited Thursday’s game, although the team was already scrambling with Elijah Molden out of the lineup.
The Chargers do have a new name to choose from after they added Jackson earlier today. The former Bears standout was cut by Chicago last offseason before he landed in Baltimore. The two-time Pro Bowler got into nine games (four starts) with his new squad before getting cut in November. It took him a whole month to find a new gig, but he lands in an enticing situation in Los Angeles.
However, Jackson didn’t perform all that well in Baltimore. His 50.3 overall defensive grade from Pro Football Focus (subscription required) is the lowest of his career and ranks in the bottom 10 among NFL safeties this year. He also was displeased with his reduced workload, and “frustrations boiled over” prior to his eventual release. He’ll be seeking a fresh start in Los Angeles, although he may be hard pressed to play a significant role considering the point of the season.
Depending on Molden’s status, Jefferson will likely be inserted into the starting lineup, with Jackson potentially serving as a key backup. The Chargers could also turn to Kendall Williamson and/or Emany Johnson, and the could also get creative with Derwin James, who has played the majority of his snaps at slot CB this season.