The Los Angeles Chargers today activated tight end Hayden Hurst from Reserve/Injured; Designated for Return. The team elevated cornerback Dicaprio Bootle and safety Kendall Williamson from the practice squad.
Hurst, a former first-round selection (25th overall) by Baltimore in the 2018 NFL Draft, has started 45-of-91 career games (including the postseason) with the Ravens, Falcons, Bengals, Panthers and Chargers. This season for the Bolts, he has seven receptions for 65 yards (9.3 avg.) in seven games played (two starts). Over his career, he has registered 202 career receptions for 1,967 yards (9.7 avg.) and 15 touchdowns in the regular season, adding 194 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 17 catches (11.4 avg.) in five playoff games. Hurst had the most productive season of his career in 2020 with Atlanta, setting career highs 56 receptions, 571 receiving yards and six touchdown grabs. He started 24-of-25 games played, including the playoffs, over the last two seasons, helping Cincinnati to an AFC Championship appearance in 2022 after recording his second career season with at least 50 receptions.
The Jacksonville, Fla., native played three seasons (2015-17) at the University of South Carolina, catching 100 passes for 1,281 yards (12.8 avg.) and three touchdowns. Hurst was a team captain each of his final two years for the Gamecocks and, in his final season, was a first-team All-Southeastern Conference selection and a semifinalist for the Mackey Award, which annually recognizes college football's top tight end. Prior to walking onto the football team at South Carolina, Hurst was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates and played a pair of seasons in the Pirates farm system. He played football and baseball at The Bolles School in Jacksonville, helping lead the Bulldogs to a pair of state baseball titles, earning 2012 Rawlings second-team All-America honors.
Since entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2021, Bootle spent time with the Kansas City Chiefs and Carolina Panthers before joining the Chargers this season. He has started two-of-21 career games played with the Chiefs and Chargers, posting 19 tackles (16 solo), a pair of pass breakups and nine special teams tackles. Bootle saw the most action of his career last season with the Panthers when he appeared in eight games and made two starts, contributing 11 tackles (all solo) and two pass breakups to the Carolina defense.
Bootle played four seasons (2017-20) at Nebraska, seeing action in 44 games. He posted 110 tackles (70 solo), an interception and a pair of forced fumbles for the Cornhuskers, starting the final 32 contests of his career. A team captain his final season in Lincoln, Neb., Bootle was named third-team All-Big Ten in 2018 and was the team's defensive back of the year in 2018 and 2019.
Originally a seventh-round selection (258th overall) by the Chicago Bears in the 2023 NFL Draft, Williamson spent time with the Bears and Buffalo Bills before joining the Los Angeles practice squad in October. He was elevated for the Chargers' Week 14 game at Kansas City but did not see any action. Williamson played four seasons (2018-22) at Stanford, earning Academic All-Pacific-12 honors each season and appearing in 43 career games. He totaled 179 tackles (121 solo) for the Cardinal, adding a sack, an interception, 13 pass breakups and a pair of forced fumbles.
