Chargers Surprisingly Cut Recent Draft Pick Days Before Playoff Game

The Los Angeles Chargers will open up the 2025 NFL playoffs on Saturday afternoon against the Houston Texans. No one expected the Chargers to be in this position with new head coach Jim Harbaugh after finishing the 2023 season with a 5-12 record.

Ahead of Saturday’s wildcard game against the Texans, Los Angeles made a shocking move to its 53-man roster. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Chargers released former fifth-round pick Jordan McFadden.

Los Angeles took the 25-year-old offensive lineman out of Clemson in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. McFadden appeared in 13 games across two seasons with the Chargers. Most of his appearances came in 2023 as a rookie (12).

The decision to release the second-year offensive lineman just days before the playoffs is a surprise given LA’s banged-up offensive line. The latest injury report for Saturday’s game shows that offensive tackles Trey Pipkins and Rashawn Slater are listed with oblique and knee injuries.

However, Salter (knee) was listed as a full participant on Wednesday after being limited on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Pipkins (oblique) has logged back-to-back practices as a limited participant.

With the Chargers freeing up a spot on the 53-man roster, it will be interesting to see if they use it for wide receiver Simi Fehoko or veteran running back Ezekiel Elliott. Fehoko had his 21-day activation window opened earlier this week from injured reserve.

The veteran wide receiver was placed on injured reserve in November after suffering an elbow injury in Week 9 against the Cleveland Browns. The Chargers might need Fehoko for Saturday’s game, especially with Joshua Palmer dealing with a heel injury.

Palmer missed last week's game against the Las Vegas Raiders because of his heel. Elliott was signed to the team’s practice squad on Tuesday after the Dallas Cowboys waived him earlier this month.

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