Tuli Tuipulotu Not Participating In Chargers Team Drills

On Saturday, head coach Jim Harbaugh was asked about the reason behind Tuipulotu’s presence but lack of participation in team work up to that point. He said (via Daniel Popper of The Athletic) the matter is being handled internally but confirmed the fourth-year edge rusher is not dealing with an injury. The situation remained the same yesterday, as noted by ESPN’s Kris Rhim.

2026 marks the first offseason in which Tuipulotu is eligible to sign an extension. As things stand, he is a pending 2027 free agent but it has long been known a lucrative commitment is a Bolts target. If a deal were to be struck, it would bring about a substantial raise compared to $5.77MM Tuipulotu is due as a base salary in 2026.

The former second-rounder has seen his production increase with each passing season in Los Angeles. Tuipulotu operated as a full-time starter in 2025, leading the team with 13 sacks. He added 32 quarterback pressures and 20 tackles for loss, which were also career highs. Those figures resulted in a Pro Bowl nod and helped Tuipulotu’s leverage during extension talks.

It has become increasingly common around the NFL for players to attend training camp and take part in individual drills while electing not to risk injury during team practices without a contract resolution in place. With Tuipulotu out of the picture for now, the Chargers’ pass rush group has been led by veterans such as Khalil Mack and Bud Dupree along with first-round rookie Akheem Mesidor and 2025 fourth-rounder Kyle Kennard. Those four are set to have a role in the pass rush department in 2026, but Tuipulotu is positioned to remain a fixture on the Chargers’ first-team defense this fall.

Mack’s latest one-year, fully guaranteed contract represents the only eight-figure contract on the team’s books right now with respect to edge rushers. Tuipulotu is set to join him on that list, but it does not appear as though an extension is imminent at this time.