Chargers' Khalil Mack: Not certain about returning
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Mack said Sunday that he was unsure about his football future, Kris Rhim of ESPN.com reports.
Mack is set to be an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career and will also be considering retirement this offseason. Although Rhim relays that the 33-year-old believes the Chargers are his best chance to win, Mack also stated, "I don't know if I'm going to play football moving forward, so there's some things I got to talk through with my wife, spend some time with my kids and try not to make a rash decision after a loss." Mack played in 16 regular-season games and dealt with a groin injury for multiple weeks in November, which may have impacted his ability to stay on the field -- he played just 582 snaps on defense, his lowest number since 2021 when he suited up just seven times for the Bears.
Samuel (shoulder) has been dealing with "stinger symptoms," which caused him to miss the majority of the 2024 season, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.
Samuel was limited to just four games in 2024 due to a shoulder injury, recording 13 total tackles (11 solo) and two passes defensed. The cornerback said that he's "feeling better" and that he wants to return to the Chargers in 2025. Samuel will be a free agent this offseason and it's unclear where his next destination will be, but he's confident he'll be ready for the offseason program, with whatever team that may be.
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Chargers' Daiyan Henley: Played through torn labrum
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Henley told reporters Sunday that he will undergo surgery to repair a torn labrum that he played through during the regular season, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.
It's unclear when exactly Henley tore his labrum, as he never showed up on the Chargers' injury report for that specific issue. He was able to play in every single regular-season game, and he finished Saturday's 32-12 loss to the Texans with 10 total tackles, which tied with Alohi Gilman for most on the Chargers. Henley's timeline for a return to on-field action will be more clear once he undergoes surgery.
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Chargers' Denzel Perryman: Tears ligament in elbow
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Perryman told reporters Sunday that he tore at least one ligament in his left elbow during Saturday's 32-12 AFC wild-card loss to the Texans, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.
Perryman suffered the injury early in the first quarter of Saturday's game, but he wasn't ruled out until midway through the fourth quarter. He was seen with a large brace on his left elbow Sunday, and it remains to be seen whether he'll need to undergo surgery. Perryman signed a one-year deal with the Chargers in March of 2024 and will enter the offseason as a free agent for a second straight year. He finished the 2024 regular season with 55 tackles (39 solo), including 1.0 sacks, across 11 games.
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Chargers' Denzel Perryman: Won't return against Houston
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Perryman (elbow) has been ruled out for the rest of Saturday's wild-card game against the Texans.
Perryman injured his left elbow in the first quarter of Saturday's game. The injury is severe enough for Perryman to not return for the final five minutes of the fourth quarter. Troy Dye will remain at middle linebacker.
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Chargers' Cam Hart: Exits wild-card game due to injury
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Hart (shoulder) is questionable to return to Saturday's wild-card game against the Texans.
Hart suffered the injury in the third quarter of Saturday's game and went straight to the locker room, per Daniel Popper of The Athletic. Deane Leonard and Eli Apple are set to play more snaps at outside corner for as long as Hart is sidelined.
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Chargers' Denzel Perryman: Leaves game due to elbow injury
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Perryman (elbow) is questionable to return to Saturday's game against the Texans.
Perryman injured his left elbow while making a tackle on Joe Mixon in the first quarter of Saturday's game. He was briefly checked on by trainers on the sidelines before heading to the locker room for further evaluation. Troy Dye will fill in at inside linebacker for as long as Perryman is out of the game.
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Chargers' Eli Apple: Able to suit up Saturday
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Apple (hamstring) is active for Saturday's clash against Houston in the wild-card round.
Apple played in just four contests during the regular season, and he spent the final six weeks on IR due to a hamstring injury. The veteran cornerback was activated from IR on Friday, and he'll be available to provide depth in the secondary against the Texans. Apple wasn't a big part of the Chargers' defense even when healthy, though, as he logged just 13 defensive snaps over his final three contests.
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Chargers' Denzel Perryman: Clear to play in wild-card contest
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Perryman (groin) is active for Saturday's wild-card matchup versus the Texans.
Perryman missed the final two games of the regular season due to a lingering groin issue, but he'll be available for Los Angeles' first playoff contest. The veteran linebacker will likely reclaim his starting role, though he wasn't an every-down player even prior to the injury, as he shared the workload with Junior Colson and Troy Dye. That could be the case again Saturday, especially since Perryman has logged just 11 defensive snaps since Week 11.
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Chargers' Ja'Sir Taylor: Season over with move to IR
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The Chargers placed Taylor (ribs) on injured reserve Friday.
Taylor is dealing with an injury to his ribs, and he won't be eligible to return to action this season regardless of how deep the Chargers go in the playoffs. The third-year cornerback began the campaign as a starter but saw his role fluctuate throughout the season, and he played exclusively on special teams Week 18 versus Las Vegas. Eli Apple (hamstring) was activated off IR on Friday to take Taylor's spot on the active roster and to potentially serve as cornerback depth in Saturday's wild-card game against Houston.
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Chargers' Eli Apple: Brought off IR
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The Chargers activated Apple (hamstring) from IR on Friday.
Apple remains officially listed as questionable for Saturday's road AFC wild-card matchup against the Texans, but his activation from IR is a necessary first step if he's going to take the field. If cleared to suit up at Houston, the veteran cornerback will figure to handle a depth role on defense.
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Chargers' Ja'Sir Taylor: Unlikely to play against Houston
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Taylor (rib) is listed as doubtful for Saturday's AFC wild-card game against the Texans.
Taylor registered an LP/DNP/LP practice log this week due to a rib injury, and it appears the 2022 sixth-round pick is unlikely to take the field Saturday. Tony Jefferson, Tarheeb Still and Deane Leonard would all be candidates to see more work on special teams and in the secondary if Taylor is unable to play.
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Chargers' Denzel Perryman: Questionable to face Houston
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Perryman (groin) practiced in full Thursday and is officially listed as questionable for Saturday's road wild-card game against the Texans.
Perryman began his practice week as a limited participant but has now logged back-to-back full sessions. The standout linebacker missed six of the Chargers' final seven regular-season games. Official word on his status for Saturday's wild-card-round matchup will arrive no later than 90 minutes prior to the game's 4:30 p.m. ET kickoff.
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Chargers' Denzel Perryman: Logs full practice Wednesday
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Perryman (groin) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice.
Perryman was sidelined for six of the Chargers' last seven games of the regular season due to a groin injury, but his full participation in Wednesday's practice indicates that he is trending towards playing in Saturday's AFC wild-card clash against the Texans. In the 10 games prior to his injury, Perryman logged 54 tackles (38 solo), including 1.0 sacks.
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Chargers' Eli Apple: Designated to return from IR
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The Chargers designated Apple (hamstring) to return from injured reserve Wednesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Apple suffered a hamstring injury during the Chargers' Week 12 loss to the Ravens, which was severe enough for him to be placed on injured reserve Nov. 27. Apple will be able to practice over the next two days, and depending on how his hamstring responds to on-field work, he could be activated off IR ahead of the Chargers' wild-card round clash against the Texans on Saturday.
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Chargers' Kristian Fulton: No longer under the weather
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Fulton (illness) was a full participant in Tuesday's practice.
Fulton was forced to leave Sunday's game against the Raiders due to an illness and did not return. His ability to practice in full Tuesday indicates he's no longer feeling under the weather and should play in Saturday's wild-card game against the Texans. Fulton finished his first regular season with the Chargers with a career-high 51 tackles (39 solo) and seven pass defenses (including one interception) across 15 games.
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Chargers' Kristian Fulton: Exits game due to illness
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Fulton (illness) is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Raiders.
Fulton appears to be under the weather and it's unclear whether he'll be able to return to Sunday's game. Tarheeb Still will likely step in at outside corner opposite Cam Hart for as long as Fulton is sidelined.
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Chargers' Alohi Gilman: Active Sunday
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Gilman (hamstring) is active for Sunday's game against the Raiders.
The safety was activated off injured reserve Saturday after missing the last five games. Gilman has played on more than 90 percent of the defensive snaps in every game he's played in but one this year. In total, he's recorded 47 tackles (31 solo), including 1.0 sacks, and four passes defensed, including one interception.
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Chargers' Denzel Perryman: Not going to play in Week 18
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Perryman (groin) has been ruled out for Sunday's matchup versus the Raiders, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.
Perryman will miss his second straight contest and sixth over Los Angeles' past seven games due to a groin injury. The veteran linebacker will finish the regular season with 55 tackles (39 solo), including 1.0 sacks, over 11 contests. It remains to be seen if Perryman will be ready to return by the Chargers' wild-card matchup next weekend. Troy Dye has been starting alongside Daiyan Henley in Perryman's stead.
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Chargers' Alohi Gilman: Comes off IR on Saturday
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The Chargers activated Gilman (hamstring), who remains questionable for Sunday's matchup versus Las Vegas, off injured reserve Saturday, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.
Gilman had been on IR since Nov. 30 due to a hamstring injury. He was designated to return Wednesday and logged an LP/LP/FP practice progression this week. Gilman's activation means he could play Sunday against the Raiders, but if he doesn't suit up, Tony Jefferson may log another start at safety.
