The Los Angeles Chargers today signed long snapper Rick Lovato to the active roster. In a corresponding move, the team placed linebacker Denzel Perryman on Reserve/Injured. Additionally, the Bolts elevated safety Tony Jefferson and linebacker Kana'i Mauga from the practice squad for Monday's game.
Lovato snapped in last week's victory over Kansas City, now totaling 157 career games (140 regular season, 17 postseason) with the Green Bay Packers, Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Chargers. He snapped for a Bolts operation in Week 1 that converted both field goal attempts and three extra points. Lovato was a consistent contributor for the Eagles from 2017-24, earning Pro Bowl recognition in 2019 and helping Philadelphia win a pair of Super Bowls. Over his tenure in the City of Brotherly Love, Lovato snapped for an operation that saw kicker Jake Elliott make 84.8 percent of his field goals (196-of-231) and score a total of 906 points. He helped Elliott be named to the Pro Bowl in 2021 and an Associated Press second-team All-Pro in 2023. Lovato snapped collegiately at Old Dominion, appearing in 50 games for the Monarchs, earning All-America honors from College Sporting News in 2012.
Jefferson came out of retirement to sign with the Chargers in 2024, emerging as a key contributor on both defense and special teams in his first season with the Bolts. He appeared in eight games in the regular season, making five starts, and posting 27 tackles (17 solo) and a tackle for loss. Jefferson started the team's AFC Wild Card matchup and registered three tackles (two solo), two tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a recovery.
Over the course of his career, Jefferson has been a productive defender, starting 71-of-121 career regular-season contests with the Cardinals, Ravens, 49ers, Giants and Chargers. The 11-year veteran has totaled 495 tackles (368 solo), 9.5 sacks, 35 tackles for loss, four interceptions, 24 passes defensed, eight forced fumbles and four recoveries in the regular season. The Southern California native has appeared in seven career postseason contests, making five starts and recording 41 tackles (24 solo), five tackles for loss, a pair of passes defensed, a forced fumble and a recovery.
Jefferson played three seasons (2010-12) at the University of Oklahoma, appearing in 40 games and totaling 258 tackles (180 solo), seven sacks, eight interceptions, 13 passes defensed, a forced fumble and a recovery. He burst onto the scene as a freshman, playing in 14 games while posting 65 tackles (44 solo), a pair of interceptions, a fumble recovery and breaking up seven passes, earning Freshman All-America recognition as well as Big 12 Co-Defensive Freshman of the Year honors.
Mauga appeared in 17 games over the last two seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders (2023-24). He has assisted on a pair of defensive tackles and been a presence on special teams, recording four special teams tackles. A native of Waianae, Hawaii, Mauga entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Broncos in 2022 after playing four seasons at Southern California (2018-21). With the Trojans, he started 24-of-43 games and totaled 207 tackles (106 solo), 16.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, six pass breakups, three interceptions and a pair of forced fumbles. Mauga was a third-team All-Pacific-12 selection from Pro Football Focus in 2020 and was an honorable mention as a senior for the Trojans. At Waianae High School in 2017, he was named Hawaii Defensive Player of the Year after totaling over 50 tackles and three defensive touchdowns.
