The San Diego Chargers lost one of their top offensive playmakers for the season for the second straight week as Danny Woodhead was placed on the Reserve-Injured list with an ACL injury. In a corresponding move, the Bolts signed WR Griff Whalen to take his spot.
The 5-11, 190-pound Whalen has caught 45 passes for 487 yards and three touchdowns in 33 games with the Indianapolis Colts while also returning 25 kickoffs for an average of 25.8 yards per return. The Stanford product initially joined the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2012, but spent that season on the reserve-injured list.
Whalen also boasts experience as a kickoff and punt returner. He has 25 career kickoff returns for 645 yards (25.8 yards per return) with a long of 50 and 46 career punt returns for 376 yards (8.2) with a long of 51. He appeared in two playoff games for the Colts in 2013, catching seven passes for 93 yards.
Whalen spent this offseason with the Miami Dolphins, but was waived after the team claimed Justin Hunter off waivers. He caught seven passes this preseason for 75 yards.
The 5-8, 200-pound Woodhead has been a vital cog to the Chargers offense since arriving in 2013. He became the first running back in franchise history to lead the team in receptions (80), receiving yards (755) and touchdown catches (six) last season. Those marks were also the most of any running back in the NFL. His 2016 campaign ends after just five quarters with 16 carries for 89 yards, as well as five catches for 31 yards and a touchdown.
