Chargers Activate Deane Leonard; Sign Eli Apple to the active roster

The Los Angeles Chargers activated defensive back Deane Leonard from reserve/injured today; Designated to return and will join defenseman Eli Apple from the practice squad on the active roster. In a corresponding move, the team waived safety AJ Finley and placed offensive tackle Hayden Hurst on reserve/injured. The Bolts also added safety Tony Jefferson and outside linebacker Caleb Murphy to the practice squad for Monday’s game.

LeonardSelected by the Chargers in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft (236th overall), he appeared in 33 games and appeared in three games, including the postseason. He recorded 21 tackles (16 solo), four pass defense, a tackle for loss, two forced fumbles and a defensive recovery, while adding 16 special teams tackles. Over two seasons at Mississippi, Leonard played in 19 games for the Rebels, totaling 64 tackles (38 solo), 11 passes defended, a tackle for loss and a fumble recovery. After three seasons at the University of Calgary (Canada), he moved to Oxford, Missouri. In 23 games for the Dinos, Leonard recorded 47 tackles (44 solo), two forced fumbles and six interceptions, including two returned for touchdowns. He also averaged 10.3 yards per punt return as a freshman and scored a touchdown on a 60-yard return.

Apple he recorded two defensive tackles in each of the last three weeks for the Bolts and broke up a pass in Week 11. For his career, Apple played in 82 of 101 regular-season games and accumulated 380 tackles (312 solo), a half-sack, seven tackles for loss, six interceptions, 61 passes defensed, three forced fumbles and seven recoveries. He also started 11 playoff games, including Super Bowl LVI and three Conference Championship games, totaling 56 tackles (46 solo), two tackles for loss, a quarterback hit and six passes defensed. He originally entered the NFL as a first-round pick (10th overall) in the 2016 NFL Draft by the New York Giants.

Apple played collegiately at Ohio State for three seasons (2012-2014), winning the Buckeyes’ inaugural 2015 College Football Playoff National Championship. As a rookie All-American and second-team All-Big Ten, he played in 28 games (27 starts) and scored 86 tackles (56 solo), an interception, nine passes defended and a foul recovery.

Jefferson He was a productive linebacker throughout his career, starting 67 of 114 regular season games with the Cardinals, Ravens, 49ers, Giants and Chargers. He totaled 468 tackles (351 solo), 9.5 sacks, 34 tackles for loss, four interceptions, 24 passes defensed, eight forced fumbles and four recoveries. In his first season with Baltimore in 2017, Jefferson started all 16 contests, setting a career high with 2.5 sacks, adding 79 tackles and passing well. A year later, he set a career high with six pass breakups in 14 starts. He has appeared in six postseason contests in his career, making four starts, and has recorded 38 tackles (22 solo), three tackles for loss and two passes defended.

Over three seasons (2010–2012) at the University of Oklahoma, Jefferson appeared in 40 games, totaling 258 tackles (180 solo), 7 sacks, 8 interceptions, 13 passes defended, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He burst onto the scene as a freshman, playing in 14 games, recording 65 tackles (44 solo), two interceptions, a fumble recovery and seven pass breakups, earning Freshman All-America recognition as well as Big 12 Co-Defensive Freshman of the Year honors.

Murphy he appeared in each of Los Angeles’ previous two games, one on defense and one on special teams. He originally entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Ferris State in 2023, signing with the Tennessee Titans. He has played five games for the Titans over the past two years, including two this season. In his NFL career, Murphy has recorded two solo tackles on defense and three tackles on special teams. The Dowagiac, Michigan native was named the 2021 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Defensive Lineman of the Year after posting 63 tackles, 14.5 sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss to help Ferris State win the NCAA Division II National Championship . A year later, Murphy set an NCAA single-season record with 25.5 sacks and tied the NCAA record with 39 tackles for a loss, leading Ferris State to repeat as NCAA Division II national champions.