The Los Angeles Chargers today placed an exclusive rights tender on running back Kimani Vidal and signed running back Jaret Patterson and safety Kendall Williamson to contract extensions.
Vidal showcased his versatility as a threat out of the backfield for the Chargers offense in 2025. The second-year running back appeared in 13 games and made 10 starts during the regular season, racking up 643 rushing yards and three scores on 155 attempts (4.1 avg.), adding 16 receptions for 136 yards (8.5 avg.) and a touchdown. He totaled three 100-yard rushing games in 2025, including the first start of his career in the Week 6 victory over Miami, where Vidal led the offense with 124 yards on the ground on 18 carries (6.9 avg.) along with three catches for 14 yards and a receiving touchdown.
A sixth-round pick of the Chargers in 2024 (181st overall), Vidal saw action in 10 games for the Bolts in his rookie season. He hauled in a 38-yard touchdown catch on his first NFL touch, becoming the 11th player in team history to have a receiving score in an NFL debut. Over the course of his two seasons with the Bolts, Vidal has registered 996 yards from scrimmage, carrying the ball 198 times for 798 yards (4.0 avg.) and three touchdowns, while adding 21 receptions for 198 yards (9.4 avg.) and two touchdowns.
Vidal appeared in 48 games over four seasons at Troy (2020-23), finishing his career as the program's all-time leader in rushing yards (4,010), attempts (781) and 200-yard rushing games (five), while tying for the most 100-yard rushing performances (14) and tying for No. 3 with 33 rushing touchdowns. The 2023 Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year and third-team All-American added 92 receptions for 700 yards (7.6 avg.) and a touchdown. Vidal is the great-nephew of Baseball Hall of Famer and home run legend Hank Aaron.
Running back Kimani Vidal recored 996 scrimmage yards and 5 total touchdowns in the 2026 season.
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kimani Vidal
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kimani Vidal
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kimani Vidal
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kimani Vidal
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kimani Vidal
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kimani Vidal
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kimani Vidal
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kimani Vidal
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kimani Vidal
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kimani Vidal
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kimani Vidal
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kimani Vidal
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kimani Vidal
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kimani Vidal
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kimani Vidal
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kimani Vidal
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kimani Vidal
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kimani Vidal
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kimani Vidal
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kimani Vidal
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kimani Vidal
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kimani Vidal
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kimani Vidal
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kimani Vidal
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kimani Vidal
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kimani Vidal
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kimani Vidal
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kimani Vidal
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kimani Vidal
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kimani Vidal
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kimani Vidal
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kimani Vidal
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kimani Vidal
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kimani Vidal
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kimani Vidal
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kimani Vidal
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kimani Vidal
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kimani Vidal
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kimani Vidal
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kimani Vidal
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kimani Vidal
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kimani Vidal
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kimani Vidal
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kimani Vidal
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kimani Vidal
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kimani Vidal
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kimani Vidal
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kimani Vidal
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kimani Vidal
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kimani Vidal
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kimani Vidal
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kimani Vidal
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kimani Vidal
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kimani Vidal
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kimani Vidal
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kimani Vidal
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kimani Vidal
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kimani Vidal
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kimani Vidal
Patterson has appeared in 27 career regular season games, including two starts, with Washington and Los Angeles after entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2021. He played seven games last season for the Bolts including the postseason, making one start and carrying the ball 41 times for 159 yards (3.9 avg.) and a touchdown. Over four seasons in the league, Patterson has totaled 503 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 126 attempts (4.0 avg.), while hauling in 13 passes for 81 yards (7.3 avg.).
In three seasons at the University at Buffalo (2018-20), Patterson was a two-time team captain and had three-straight 1,000-yard campaigns on the ground. Patterson finished his Bulls career ranked No. 1 rushing touchdowns (52) in program history and second in rushing yards (3,884) and 100-yard performances (15). He set single-season school records with 1,799 rushing yards and 19 touchdown runs in 2019, tying his own record a season later with another 19 rushing scores. Patterson ran for 409 yards and eight touchdowns against Kent State in 2020, the most rushing scores by any FBS player in over 25 years, eventually earning recognition as All-America from The Associated Press and Mid-American Conference Offensive Player of the Year.
Running back Jaret Patterson recored 159 rushing yards and 1 touchdown in 6 games in the 2026 season.
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Jaret Patterson
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Jaret Patterson
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Jaret Patterson
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Jaret Patterson
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Jaret Patterson
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Jaret Patterson
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Jaret Patterson
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Jaret Patterson
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Jaret Patterson
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Jaret Patterson
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Jaret Patterson
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Jaret Patterson
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Jaret Patterson
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Jaret Patterson
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Jaret Patterson
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Jaret Patterson
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Jaret Patterson
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Jaret Patterson
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Jaret Patterson
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Jaret Patterson
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Jaret Patterson
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Jaret Patterson
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Jaret Patterson
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Jaret Patterson
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Jaret Patterson
Originally a seventh-round selection (258th overall) by the Chicago Bears in the 2023 NFL Draft, Williamson spent time with the Bears and Buffalo Bills before joining the Los Angeles practice squad in October of 2024. He made his NFL debut that season in the Week 16 victory over Denver, recording a solo tackle on defense. During his second season with the Bolts, Williamson emerged as a key contributor to the Chargers' special teams unit, making appearances in all 17 games. He finished the season tied for third on the team with 11 special teams tackles and added three solo stops on defense.
Williamson played five seasons (2018-22) at Stanford, earning Academic All-Pacific-12 honors each season and appearing in 49 career games, including 38 starts. He totaled 203 tackles (140 solo) for the Cardinals, adding a sack, an interception, 13 pass breakups and a pair of forced fumbles. A career best season in 2021, Williamson recorded highs in total tackles (67), good for rank No. 3 on the team, solo tackles (40), and pass breakups (seven).
Safety Kendall Williamson recored 17 tackles in 17 appearances in the 2026 season.
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kendall Williamson
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kendall Williamson
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kendall Williamson
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kendall Williamson
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kendall Williamson
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kendall Williamson
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kendall Williamson
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kendall Williamson
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kendall Williamson
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kendall Williamson
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kendall Williamson
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kendall Williamson
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kendall Williamson
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kendall Williamson
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kendall Williamson
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kendall Williamson
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kendall Williamson
Take a look at the best photos of Chargers 2026 free agent Kendall Williamson
