Chargers Bolster Roster with Activate Colson, Elevate Jrpheus
The Los Angeles Chargers made a series of roster moves ahead of Sunday’s upcoming contest, activating linebacker Junior Colson from Reserve/Injured: Designated for Return while simultaneously elevating running back Jaret Patterson and safety Kendall Williamson from the practice squad. Every move signifies a strategic maneuver as linebacker Denzel Perryman was downgraded to out for the game.
Colson Returns to the Field
Colson’s return is significant.
Drafted by the Chargers in the third round (69th overall) of the 2024 NFL Draft, Colson’s impact was poised to be felt considerably before injury derailed his early progress. This season, in six games, he secured 13 tackles (seven solo) and a pass defensed on defense while adding a special teams tackle.
“He was a second-team All-Big Ten selection each of the last two seasons at Michigan after leading the team in tackles in both 2022 (101) and 2023 (95),” Coach Staley mentioned at a press conference. “He was voted as the program’s toughest player by his teammates in 2023 and was on the watchlist for multiple national awards.”
His final season in Ann Arbor was one for the record books, demonstrating remarkable consistency and dominance as he started all15 games of the undefeated season leading the nation’s top-ranked defense to a College Football Playoff National Championship victory. Coach Staley echoed the sentiments of many when speaking about Colson, “Junior came in and made an impact right away.
Throughout his two years there, he earned second-team All-Big Ten honors.”
Reinforcements on Offense and Defense
Patterson, a running back, and Williamson, a safety, add much-needed depth to their respective positions. Patterson’s NFL career path has seen him hone his skills on multiple practice squads, ultimately landing him here with the Chargers after spending time in Washington. Over two seasons, Patterson accumulated 344 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns on 85 carries while adding 10 receptions for 73 yards.
“He has the physical tools and is a tough runner,” remarked Head Coach Staley. “He’s a tenacious competitor on every down and embraces those extra yards.” Possessing the ability to grind and find cracks in the defence, Patterson attempts on average to exceed four yards per carry. " ;
Williamson, a former seventh-round pick by the Chicago Bears in the 2023 draft, brings height to the Chargers defense, thriving in coverage during his college years at Stanford. He spent time with both the Bears and Buffalo Bills before joining the Los Angeles practice squad this past October. His versatility and tackling skills make him a valuable asset
.
“We like his length and his potential on making plays against tight ends,” Coach Staley analyzed.
—“It’s hard on a scrambling quarterback when a safety comes flying Downfield”
How much of an impact is Junior Colson expected to make on the Chargers’ defense upon his return?
## Chargers Look to Bolstered Defense with Colson’s Return
**Interviewer:** Welcome back to the show. Today, we’re joined by sports analyst, John Smith, to discuss the Los Angeles Chargers’ recent roster moves. John, the Chargers are making some strategic changes ahead of Sunday’s game. What’s the biggest takeaway?
**John Smith:** Absolutely. The Chargers are activating linebacker Junior Colson from Injured Reserve, and that’s a major boost to their defense. Colson was a highly touted third-round pick in this year’s draft, [1] and he showed a lot of promise before an injury sidelined him.
**Interviewer:** So, what can Chargers fans expect from Colson now that he’s back?
**John Smith:** Well, he’s a tackling machine. At Michigan, he led the team in tackles for two consecutive seasons, racking up over 90 tackles each year. [1] Coach Staley even called him the team’s toughest player. [1] His return gives the Chargers a much-needed physical presence on defense.
**Interviewer:** Interesting. And this move comes after linebacker Denzel Perryman was ruled out for the game.
**John Smith:** Exactly. It seems like a calculated move to fill that void left by Perryman’s absence. Colson’s return combined with the elevation of other players from the practise squad suggests the Chargers are ready to make a statement this week.
**Interviewer:** Well, thanks for breaking that down for us, John. We’ll be watching to see how these roster moves affect the Chargers’ performance on Sunday.
