GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Chargers placed defensive back Deane Leonard on injured reserve on Monday afternoon, one of a number of moves designed to bolster their health in the secondary before facing the Arizona Cardinals. Leonard, who also plays a key role on special teams, has a hamstring injury.
Leonard must sit out four games, including Monday night’s game against Arizona.
In addition, the Chargers signed cornerbacks Dicaprio Bootle and Shaun Wade to the active roster from the practice squad. They also activated center Sam Mustipher and wide receiver Jalen Reagor for Monday’s game in order to add depth because of a number of injuries at the positions.
The Chargers were especially thin at the cornerback position with starters Asante Samuel Jr. placed on injured reserve because of a shoulder injury and Kristian Fulton nursing a hamstring injury. Samuel also sat out the Chargers’ victory over the Denver Broncos in Week 6. Fulton was limited by his injury against Denver.
Jesse Minter, the Chargers’ defensive coordinator, pressed rookies Cam Hart and Tarheeb Still into extended duty against the Broncos in place of Samuel and Fulton. The Chargers shut out the Broncos through three quarters, but then lost track of quarterback Bo Nix too often in the fourth but held on for a 23-16 victory.
“Major shoutout to Cam,” Minter said last week of Hart, who made his first NFL start in place of Samuel in Week 6. “He played really well. Just like with Tarheeb, rookies come in and they don’t really know how much they’re going to play in their rookie year. When the opportunity came, he was ready.”
Hart and Still were each selected in the fifth round of the NFL draft in April.
ADDITIONAL MOVES
Fulton was active for Monday’s game as was wide receiver Ladd McConkey. But the Chargers were without three potential targets for quarterback Justin Herbert. Wide receivers Derius Davis (hamstring) and Quentin Johnston (ankle) and tight end Hayden Hurst (groin) were inactive because of injuries. …
The Chargers haven’t placed outside linebacker Joey Bosa on injured reserve despite a nagging hip injury he suffered on the first play of their 20-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 3, but he sat out for the third straight game Monday. Tuli Tuipulotu has replaced Bosa in the starting lineup.