LA Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz has done an excellent job at working around the roster fringes to find talent at a great bargain. Without the likes of Kristian Fulton, J.K. Dobbins and Denzel Perryman, to name a few, the Chargers would not be in the same position they are today.
Not every swing the Chargers front office takes ends up being a home run, though.
Earlier this year, the Chargers took one of their most questionable swings on former Las Vegas Raiders first-round pick, Alex Leatherwood. Leatherwood signed with the Chargers before training camp and eventually signed to the practice squad after missing the initial 53-man roster.
Leatherwood was awful in the preseason so it was surprising to not only see him make the practice squad, but continue on the practice squad on the year went on. That run finally ended on Tuesday, however, as the Chargers released Leatherwood to make room for the latest wide receiver signing.
The Chargers signed WR Dez Fitzpatrick to the practice squad and released T Alex Leatherwood
— Kris Rhim (@krisrhim1) December 10, 2024
Chargers may have been Alex Leatherwood's last chance in the NFL
Leatherwood's Chargers tenure came to a close and it might end his story in the NFL as a result. While another team may take a chance on him as a former first-round pick, he has proven in multiple stops now that he is not cut out to be on an NFL roster.
Leatherwood lasted just one year on the Raiders after being taken with the 17th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. The Chicago Bears claimed Leatherwood after he was waived by the Raiders and the story was more of the same. After one year in Chicago, he was released.
The former Alabama offensive lineman signed to the Cleveland Browns practice squad in 2023 and would spend the entire season there but did not appear in a game. Cleveland opted against bringing him back once the season ended.
That all led to his tenure with the Chargers where Leatherwood struggled in the preseason, still got a spot on the practice squad, but was eventually booted before the year was over. After two bad years playing games, and two lackluster years on practice squads, this may be the end of the road.
Replacing him in Los Angeles is former fourth-round pick from the 2021 NFL Draft, Dez Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick has only played six games in his NFL career and has five catches for 49 yards and a touchdown.
Fitzpatrick was previously signed to the Chargers' practice squad earlier this year and was released in early December.