After reports emerged that the Chargers had released veteran safety Tony Jefferson, general manager Joe Hortiz and head coach Jim Harbaugh pivoted, ultimately keeping Jefferson on the active 53-man roster following a pair of clearing-house trades, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
By trading away undrafted rookie cornerback Avery Smith to the Seahawks and defensive lineman TeRah Edwards to the Panthers, the Bolts successfully carved out the necessary roster slots to keep "Unc."
For a moment, it appeared history was repeating itself. In both 2024 and 2025, the Chargers subjected Jefferson to final roster cutdowns, releasing him temporarily before bringing him right back. Because Jefferson is a vested veteran, he bypasses the NFL's waiver system,
making him a prime candidate for front offices trying to safely harbor injured reserve designations or execute late-August trades.
However, rather than risking the open market or banking on a practice-squad handshake agreement, the Chargers chose to actively preserve his spot on the initial 53-man roster.
This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: Chargers roster news: Tony Jefferson retained after pair of trades
