The Los Angeles Chargers today signed safety Tony Jefferson to the active roster. He replaces safety Derwin James Jr., who was placed on Reserve/Suspended By Commissioner-Less than One Year on Wednesday. In addition, the team signed guard/tackle Braeden Daniels to the practice squad.
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.
Daniels was a fourth-round selection (118th overall) by the Washington Commanders in 2023, spending last season on the practice squad for the Houston Texans. He started 43-of-49 career games along the offensive line over five seasons (2018-22) at the University of Utah. Daniels was a second-team All-Pacific-12 selection in 2021 and earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors in 2022. In his final season with the Utes, Daniels helped the offense average 217.6 rushing yards per game, ranking 11th among FBS programs. He was a two-time winner of the Pac-12 Offensive Lineman of the Week award.