For the third week in a row, the LA Chargers activated a player from the practice squad only to make that player a healthy scratch. With injuries on the offensive line, 2025 sixth-round pick Branson Taylor was elevated only to be left on the inactives list.
Taylor was cut after the preseason and has spent the entire 2025 season on the practice squad. After struggling in the preseason and not being elevated at all to this point, fans were confused to see him elevated in the first place. That confusion was amplified when Taylor's name graced the inactives list.
As confusing as this trend has been, it appears the Chargers might be doing this for a great cause. By elevating Taylor and others only to make them inactive, the Chargers are essentially giving them their version of a holiday bonus, whether intentional or not.
third straight week Chargers have elevated a player only for him to be a gameday inactive. this late in the season that's usually basically a holiday bonus - means the PS guy has been working hard and deserves a gameday check even though there's not room on the gameday 48 https://t.co/AALmdeH1Vc
— alex katson 🇯🇵 (@alexkatson) December 21, 2025
Chargers' odd roster moves likely have a special origin
Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers haven't outright confirmed that this is what they are doing, and they likely never will. This is the kind of activity that can stay in house and does not need to be broadcast to the rest of the world.
Still, it's special that the Chargers are taking care of the players who have worked hard on the practice squad all season. The Chargers may not have ever intended to play Taylor against the Cowboys but the message is definitely still heard by him and his family.
There is a substantial difference in pay between being on the practice squad and being on the active roster. As someone with fewer than two years of service, Taylor makes $13,000 per week being on the practice squad and will make just over $49,000 because of the elevation.
If the Chargers truly did this just to take care of Taylor, that's a $36,000 bonus for his commitment to the practice squad this season. The Chargers elevated Dalevon Campbell last week and made him inactive. The week prior, Trayveon Williams was elevated, and while he was active, he didn't actually play.
Los Angeles has two more chances to do this with two more weeks left in the season. Perhaps Taylor will get another chance at "making" the active roster in the next two weeks, or perhaps it will be another practice squad player that gets the "opportunity".
Either way, good on the Chargers. This is how you build trust and get everyone to buy in.