The Los Angeles Chargers secured a 20 – 9 victory against yet another divisional opponent in the Las Vegas Raiders, keeping them undefeated heading into Week 3.
The efforts by the defense were a huge component towards this win, as they held the Raiders to just 3 field goals all game.
However, the unit didn’t come out unscathed, as team captain and 12-year veteran OLB Khalil Mack suffered a gruesome elbow dislocation during the contest.
In response, general manager Joe Hortiz and the front office have gone to the free agency market to search for reinforcements for the pass rush group.
Los Angeles Chargers Bolster Pass Rush
After holding tryouts, the Chargers decided to sign DE Clelin Ferrell as well as OLB Rashad Weaver, both to the practice squad.
Clelin Ferrell | DE | 6’4″ 265 lbs
The former 4th overall pick out of Clemson, drafted by the Raiders in 2019, spent the first four years of his career with them. He then signed consecutive 1-year prove-it deals with the 49ers and Commanders, and had planned on running it back with Washington before being released on roster cut-down day.
Over the course of his 6-year NFL career, he’s accumulated 17.0 sacks, 25 TFLs, 12 PD, 4 FF, and 159 combined tackles.
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The 6’4″, 265 lb player won’t fill the pass rush void left by Mack, but can be a solid rotational guy who also sets hard edges against the run. He was signed to the practice squad, so we will see if/when he gets called up to the active roster.
When he does, he should help take the workload off OLBs Tuli Tuipulotu and Bud Dupree, as he acclimates to this defense. With the track record of defensive coordinator Jessie Minter and his position coaches, dealing with injuries last season and getting more out of lesser players, this should be a seamless transition.
Rashad Weaver | OLB | 6’4″ 259 lbs
The Chargers add yet another former Tennessee Titans player, Rashad Weaver, to build more depth in the pass rush platoon.
The 4th-round pick (135th overall) in 2021 was with the Titans for three seasons before being waived and spending last season with the Texans.
Entering his 5th year in the NFL, he has accumulated 5.5 career sacks, which all came during the 2022 season. He also has plenty of experience as a special teamer, having played 41% (169) of the special teams snaps for the Titans in 2023.
Weaver will start off on the practice squad, though it wouldn’t be surprising to see him be elevated on game days, especially with the uncertainties the coaching staff has on 4th-round rookie OLB Kyle Kennard.
The aggressive nature of the Chargers’ front office, attacking the position group to replace Khalil Mack’s production, shows their intentions of pushing deep into the postseason and continuing to add to the suffocating defense that has been the strength of this 2025 team so far.