The Los Angeles Chargers have enjoyed a strong start to the 2025 campaign, as they have opened the new season with victories over the Kansas City Chiefs and Las Vegas Raiders. While the Chargers largely managed to cruise to a win on Monday Night Football over the Raiders in Week 2, they lost one of their top defenders, Khalil Mack, to an elbow injury.
Mack was forced out of the game early with his aforementioned injury, and he appeared to be in a great deal of pain. Sure enough, the star pass rusher was placed on injured reserve in the wake of this game, and that prompted the front office to go out and sign former first-round pick Clelin Ferrell to fill in for him during his absence.
Chargers Sign Defensive End Clelin Ferrell
Ferrell was selected with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft by the Las Vegas Raiders, with the hope being that he would be the team’s replacement for Mack after they traded him to the Chicago Bears. That didn’t end up happening, as Ferrell never managed to find his footing with the Raiders, and they ended up letting him leave in free agency after the 2022 season.
The San Francisco 49ers ended up signing Ferrell, and he promptly put together the best season of his career, racking up 28 tackles, 3.5 sacks, one pass deflection, and one fumble forced in 17 games, all of which were starts. Ferrell would sign with the Washington Commanders for the 2024 season, and while he re-signed with them this offseason, he ended up getting released as part of the team’s roster cuts.
Ever since then, Ferrell has been waiting for a new opportunity, and one has finally presented itself with the Chargers, who need pass-rushing help in the wake of Mack’s injury. On Thursday, reports emerged that Ferrell would be signing with Los Angeles, as he will play a role in helping the team move forward without Mack for the time being.
“Sources: The Chargers are signing DE Clelin Ferrell after he worked out for the team,” Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports reported. “The move comes after Khalil Mack’s elbow injury landed him on IR. Ferrell, the former No. 4 overall pick, has started 57 career games, including 10 with Washington last year.”
Chargers Looking to Continue Their Winning Ways in Week 3
GettyLos Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert.
The addition of Ferrell won’t directly replace the production of Mack because few players in the league are as dangerous as Mack is. Adding him to a group that still features guys like Tuli Tuipulotu and Bud Dupree, though, will help ensure that the Chargers are still getting pressure on the quarterback, even without having Mack on the field.
With Ferrell on board, Los Angeles can fully turn its attention to Week 3, where it will take on the Denver Broncos in another divisional clash. While the Broncos lost in Week 2 to the Indianapolis Colts, they are going to provide the Chargers a tough challenge in this contest. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. ET on Sunday afternoon, and L.A. will be very motivated to further strengthen its grip of the top spot in the AFC West division by beating Denver.
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