The Los Angeles Chargers today signed safety Marcus Maye to the active roster from the practice squad. In a corresponding move, the team placed cornerback Nikko Reed on Reserve/Injured. The Bolts also elevated guard Branson Taylor and quarterback DJ Uiagalelei from the practice squad for Sunday's game.
In addition to the transactions, the Chargers made a pair of updates to the injury report — defensive back Elijah Molden will not travel with the team and has been downgraded to out, while linebacker Del'Shawn Phillips has been added to the report with a hamstring injury and is questionable for Sunday's game.
Maye, who appeared in four games and made a start with the Chargers in 2024, returns to action for the Bolts after spending time on the team's practice squad this season. Originally a second-round selection (39th overall) by the New York Jets in the 2017 NFL Draft, Maye has started 81-of-90 career games with the Jets, New Orleans Saints, Miami Dolphins and Los Angeles Chargers. He began the 2024 season with the Dolphins before being claimed off waivers by the Bolts. After joining the Chargers on a Wednesday, Maye ended up making his Chargers debut just four days later, contributing on defense and picking off a pass in the team's 17-13 victory at Atlanta. In eight pro seasons, Maye has posted 445 (303 solo), 4.5 sacks, nine interceptions, 31 passes defensed, 13 tackles for loss, five forced fumbles and a recovery.
In four collegiate seasons (2013-16) at the University of Florida, Maye was a first-team All-America selection as a junior by USA Today before earning Associated Press second-team All-Southeastern Conference recognition as a senior. A key contributor on defense and special teams, he totaled 210 tackles (124 solo) tackles over 45 career games for the Gators, adding seven tackles for loss, a sack, five interceptions, 22 passes defensed, seven forced fumbles and a pair of recoveries.
A sixth-round draft pick for the Bolts this year (199th overall), Taylor played in 45 games and made 21 starts over his five seasons at Pittsburgh (2020-24), leading the Panthers as a team captain as a senior. Taylor took over as a starter in 2023, blocking along a line that allowed just 23 sacks, the fifth-fewest in the Atlantic Coast Conference that season. He started the first six games of 2024 at left tackle for Pittsburgh, helping the offense average over 480 total net yards per game over that stretch, including averaging 175.5 rushing yards per game.
Uiagalelei (pronounced oo-ee-AHN-guh-luh-lay), a native of Inland Empire, Calif., signed with the Chargers as an undrafted free agent in May. He finished his college career at Florida State (2024) after having played previously at Oregon State (2023) and Clemson (2020-22), starting 45-of-53 career games played. Uiagalelei threw for 9,384 yards and 61 touchdowns over his five collegiate seasons, adding 1,124 rushing yards and 21 scores. He prepped at nearby high school powerhouse St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.), earning USA Today All-America honors after leading the Braves to a 7A state title and the top-ranked team in the nation.
