The Los Angeles Chargers today activated linebacker Nick Niemann from Reserve/Injured; Designated for Return. The team also signed safety Tony Jefferson to the active roster. In corresponding moves, Los Angeles placed running back Gus Edwards and cornerback Asante Samuel Jr., on Reserve/Injured. The Bolts also elevated cornerback Dicaprio Bootle from the practice squad for Sunday's game.
Niemann has been a special teams stalwart for the Chargers since being selected by the team in the sixth round 185th overall) in the 2021 NFL Draft, totaling 25 tackles on special teams in the regular season. He's appeared in 52 career games, including the postseason, and made three starts — all of which came last year. Defensively, Niemann has posted 41 tackles (21 solo), an interception, a tackle for loss, two passes defensed and a fumble recovery. He was recognized as All-Rookie by the Professional Football Writers of America as a special teamer in 2021 after leading all NFL rookies that season with 14 tackles on special teams.
Over four seasons (2017-20) at the University of Iowa, Niemann saw action in 45 games and made 21 starts. He was a third-team All-Big Ten selection as a senior after leading the team with 77 tackles (37 solo). Over the course of his Hawkeyes career, Niemann totaled 157 tackles (74 solo), two sacks, an interception, a pass defensed and a fumble recovery.
Jefferson has been a productive defender throughout his career, starting 67-of-114 career regular-season contests with the Cardinals, Ravens, 49ers, Giants and Chargers. He's totaled 468 tackles (351 solo), 9.5 sacks, 34 tackles for loss, four interceptions, 24 passes defensed, eight forced fumbles and four recoveries. In his first season with Baltimore in 2017, Jefferson started all 16 contests, setting a career high with 2.5 sacks while adding 79 tackles and picking off a pass. A year later, he set a career high with six pass breakups in 14 starts. He has appeared in six career postseason contests, making four starts and recording 38 tackles (22 solo), three tackles for loss and a pair of passes defensed.
Over three seasons (2010-12) at the University of Oklahoma, Jefferson appeared in 40 games, totaling 258 tackles (180 solo), seven sacks, eight interceptions, 13 passes defensed, a forced fumble and a recovery. He burst onto the scene as a freshman, playing in 14 games while posting 65 tackles (44 solo), a pair of interceptions, a fumble recovery and breaking up seven passes, earning Freshman All-America recognition as well as Big 12 Co-Defensive Freshman of the Year honors.
Since entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2021, Bootle has spent time with the Kansas City Chiefs and Carolina Panthers. He has started two-of-15 career games played, posting 19 tackles (16 solo), a pair of pass breakups and six 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.
