Chargers LB Denzel Perryman Lands On IR

This is the second consecutive late-summer IR placement for the oft-injured Perryman, who suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 1 last year and did not return until the second half of October. He later served a two-game suspension for repeatedly violating “playing rules intended to protect the health and safety of players,” the NFL announced at the time. All told, he played 10 games (all starts) and recorded 47 tackles.

Although Perryman has sat out at least five games in four consecutive seasons, the Chargers brought him back on a one-year, $2.79MM deal in free agency. The longtime Charger entered the NFL as their second-round pick in 2015, when they were still in San Diego, and spent his first six seasons with the team.

After dividing 2021-23 between the Raiders and Texans, Perryman returned to the Chargers on the first of three straight one-year contracts. Despite the annual durability concerns, Perryman has started in all but two of his appearances during his second Chargers stint.

The 33-year-old Perryman will not make his 2026 debut until at least Week 5, an Oct. 11 meeting with the AFC West rival Broncos. Perryman’s absence should lead to more work for Troy Dye, a third-year Charger who played 33 games and totaled 12 starts from 2024-25. Over 16 games and a career-high seven starts last year, Dye tallied 58 tackles, five TFL and four pass breakups. He finished the season as Pro Football Focus’ 50th-ranked linebacker out of 88 qualifiers. Perryman and Daiyan Henley, the Chargers’ other full-time starter, tied for 53rd.

In addition to Dye and Henley, the Chargers have Marlowe Wax and special teams maven Del’Shawn Phillips as healthy LB options on their active roster. The Bolts also have 2024 third-rounder Junior Colson and undrafted rookie Lander Barton on hand as practice squad depth. They brought Colson and Barton back after cutting them on Sunday.