Chargers place Castillo on IR, sign Triplett

SAN DIEGO – The Chargers placed defensive end Luis Castillo on Reserve-Injured on Wednesday, ending a 13-week effort to get him healthy by the end of the season. San Diego also signed linebacker Nate Triplett.

Castillo injured his tibia in the season opener against Minnesota. He’d started 46 of the Chargers’ last 49 regular-season games at left defensive end before the injury.

“He for a while was making progress and like sometimes happens with these injuries he’s kind of leveled off right now,” Head Coach Norv Turner said of Castillo on Tuesday.

Vaughn Martin has started all 11 games in Castillo’s place and is second among defensive linemen with 40 tackles.

Triplett spent seven weeks on the Chargers’ practice squad last season before Indianapolis signed him to their active roster in December. Triplett, 6-foot-3, 250 pounds, held a special teams role with the Colts but was released in October. He’ll wear No. 96 for San Diego.

The Chargers also signed defensive end Damik Scafe to the practice squad and released quarterback Drew Willy. Scafe spent training camp in San Diego but was injured when the preseason concluded.