Attrition continues to provide hardship for the still winless Chargers. Los Angeles announced today that, while they were able to activate fullback/defensive tackle Scott Matlock and offensive lineman Branson Taylor from injured reserve, they will be taking the roster spots of quarterback Trey Lance and offensive tackle Trevor Penning, who are being placed on IR.
Matlock missed the Chargers’ 0-4 start with a foot injury, while Taylor was on the shelf with shoulder and neck issues. It’s not a surprise the Chargers are bringing Matlock and Taylor back, having designated both players for return when they put them on IR at the end of August. Doing so left the Bolts with six remaining activations for the season.
Matlock, a fourth-year veteran, emerged as a core special-teamer over the previous couple of seasons. He also played upward of 30% of offensive snaps from 2024-25 and chipped in a bit on defense, though his work on that side of the ball has markedly declined in each season. After combining for 403 defensive snaps in his first two seasons, he played just 18 in 2025.
Taylor, a sixth-round pick last year, only played one game as a rookie. However, he was a contender in a crowded competition for the Chargers’ starting left guard job over the summer. Kayode Awosika ultimately beat out Taylor, Penning and Trey Pipkins for the role, but Awosika suffered a fibula injury in Week 2. He will miss his third straight game when the Chargers face the AFC West rival Broncos on Sunday.
While the Chargers turned to Penning to replace Awosika, the former suffered a concussion against the Seahawks in Week 4. It is apparently a serious enough injury to sideline Penning for at least four games. After he departed early in Week 4, the Chargers relied on a pair of rookies – second-rounder Jake Slaughter (11 snaps) and sixth-rounder Logan Taylor (28 snaps) – at left guard. Slaughter thrived as a guard at Florida, but he took over as the Chargers’ starting center after Tyler Biadasz suffered a season-ending knee injury in August.
Thanks to the Chargers’ myriad injuries up front, Slaughter is set to start at left guard this week, per Joaquin Ruiz of the Los Angeles Times. With Penning, Awosika, Pipkins and starting tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt all out, the Chargers are down to Logan Taylor at left tackle, Jacob Spomer at center and rookie fourth-rounder Travis Burke at right tackle. Cole Strange, a rare Chargers O-lineman who has managed to stay healthy, will continue to man right guard.
Lance is a dealing with a groin injury that will force him to join Penning in sitting out a minimum of four games. DJ Uiagalelei, whom Lance beat out to remain the Chargers’ No. 2 QB over the summer, will step in as Justin Herbert’s backup. Even though Herbert has taken a beating this year, he has played all 263 of the Chargers’ offensive snaps.
Connor Byrne contributed to this post.