The LA Chargers trimmed the roster down to 53 players on Tuesday and the process was full of surprises. Whether it be fan favorites getting the boot or surprising players getting the nod, the Chargers put together a roster that nobody could have fully predicted.
As active as the Chargers were on cut-down day, there were still more moves to be made after Tuesday's roster deadline. The biggest name to watch was Eric Rogers, who made the team as a standout UDFA despite suffering what looked like a scary injury in the team's preseason game against the New Orleans Saints.
Los Angeles keeping Rogers on the initial 53-man roster appeared at the time to be savvy roster manipulation. That is indeed what is was, as just 24 hours later the Chargers have placed Rogers on IR and signed veteran linebacker Del'Shawn Phillips to the active roster.
Chargers' Eric Rogers move was the most obvious move after roster cuts
Rogers clearly wasn't going to be ready for the start of the season and this move confirms that. The standout cornerback has to spend at least four weeks on IR before returning, assuming he can return.
There are several reasons why the Chargers operated in this manner instead of just putting Rogers on IR and keeping Phillips on the 53-man roster. First, the Chargers ran out of IR spots for Rogers when cutting the roster down. Teams are only allowed two IR spots for players who are designated to return and the Bolts used them on long snapper Josh Harris and defensive back Deane Leonard.
The alternative was cutting Rogers and re-signing him to the practice squad. While that may have seemed like the logical move given his injury, there is a good chance another team would have scooped Rogers up solely to later put him on IR.
After all, Trikweze Bridges was signed by the Dallas Cowboys after a truly woeful preseason and training camp with the Bolts. If Bridges was able to find a home, Rogers definitely would have been picked up.
By doing it this way, the Chargers also bought themselves time. Los Angeles knew the entire time that Rogers would eventually go on IR, and by doing it this way, it allowed the Bolts to peruse the waiver market to see if the team could get any help that way.
Los Angeles didn't make any waiver claims on Wednesday, leaving a slot open for the veteran Philips to re-sign with the team. Unless a truly special name came on the waiver wire, this was always the most likely outcome.
After all, the Chargers telegraphed this by only carrying four linebackers on the 53-man roster with Junior Colson undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery. The Chargers desperately needed another linebacker, especially one who can produce on special teams.
Phillips is that player and given his veteran status and slow start to the 2025 season, the Chargers were comfortable knowing he wouldn't be claimed. He wasn't, and now he is back on the active roster in place of the injured Rogers.