The Los Angeles Chargers today activated wide receiver DJ Chark Jr., from Reserve/Injured; Designated for Return. In a corresponding move, Los Angeles placed wide receiver Brenden Rice on Reserve/Injured. The Bolts also elevated cornerback Eli Apple and Jalen Reagor from the practice squad for Sunday's game.
A former second-round selection in the 2018 NFL Draft (61st overall) by Jacksonville, Chark signed with the Bolts this offseason after playing four years with the Jaguars (2018-21), before spending a season each with the Lions (2022) and Panthers (2023). He has started 51-of-69 career games, totaling 212 receptions for 3,069 yards (14.5 avg.) and 23 touchdowns. Over the last two seasons, Chark has averaged 15.8 yards per catch, the sixth-best average in the NFL among players with at least 65 receptions over that span. Chark turned in the best season of his career in 2019, where he set career highs in Jacksonville with 73 receptions for 1,008 yards and eight touchdowns, tying for the third-most receiving scores by any player in the AFC.
Chark played four seasons at Louisiana State (2014-17), capping his career as a second-team All-Southeastern Conference selection as a senior. That season, he recorded 40 receptions for 874 yards (21.9 avg.) and three touchdowns and served as the team's primary punt returner, bringing a pair of punts back for scores. Following his time in Baton Rouge, La., Chark was named co-MVP of the Reese's Senior Bowl after helping the South to a 45-16 win by hauling in 160 yards and a touchdown on five receptions. Chark will wear No. 9 for the Chargers.
A 2021 AFC champion, Apple has started 82-of-98 regular season games and accumulated 378 tackles (310 solo), half a sack, seven tackles for loss, six interceptions, 60 passes defensed, three forced fumbles and seven fumble recoveries. He has also started 11 playoff games, including Super Bowl LVI and three conference championship games (2021 and 2022 AFC, 2018 NFC), and totaled 56 tackles (46 solo), two tackles for loss, one quarterback hit and six passes defensed. He originally entered the NFL as a first-round pick (10th overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft by the New York Football Giants.
Apple played collegiately at Ohio State for three seasons (2012-14), winning the inaugural 2015 College Football Playoff National Championship with the Buckeyes. A freshman All-American and second-team All-Big Ten selection, he played in 28 games (27 starts) and compiled 86 tackles (56 solo), one interception, nine passes defensed and one fumble recovery.
A 2020 first-round selection (21st overall) by Philadelphia, Reagor has started 25-of-58 regular-season games for the Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots and Los Angeles Chargers. He's hauled in 82 passes for 1,013 yards (12.4 avg.) and four touchdowns, while adding 99 rushing yards on 20 carries (5.0 avg.). In a pair of postseason appearances, Reagor has made a start and hauled in a two-yard reception.
A native of Waxahachie, Texas, Reagor played three years (2017-19) at TCU, ultimately earning second-team All-America recognition as a punt returner in his final season in Fort Worth, Texas. He saw action in 39 career games for the Horned Frogs, posting 148 receptions for 2,248 yards (15.2 avg.) and 22 touchdowns along with 324 rushing yards and a pair of scores on 35 attempts (9.3 avg.). Reagor returned 23 punts for 409 yards (17.8 avg.) and a pair of touchdowns, both of which were recorded in 2019.
