How Tuli Tuipulotu is Approaching Starting Role in 2025

Jul 18, 2025 at 05:45 PM

Omar Navarro

Jr. Writer

Chargers Training Camp is underway in El Segundo.

Chargers Defensive Coordinator Jesse Minter and outside linebackers Khalil Mack and Tuli Tuipulotu took to the podium at The Bolt on Day 2 of Chargers Training Camp.

Business as usual

The role might be changing for Tuli Tuipulotu heading into Year 3, but the mindset isn't.

"I feel like every year I come into, it has to be a big year," Tuipulotu said Friday. "That was my mindset coming into last year and it's going to be the same mindset coming into this year."

After the Chargers offseason free agency period concluded, the path has been cleared for Tuipulotu to ascend into a starting role entering 2025.

And the outside linebacker has manned the edge rusher spot opposite Khalil Mack so far in the first couple of days in camp.

But knowing the opportunity that lies in front of him, Tuipulotu has continued to have the same approach he always had.

"Nah, it doesn't change it," Tuipulotu said. "To be honest, I've been starting since my rookie year, last year and if that's my role this year, it's going to feel the same.

"I don't think it's anything different than what I've been doing," Tuipulotu added.

Chargers Defensive Coordinator Jesse Minter sees it in the way he's approached everything this spring and summer, too.

He praised Tuipulotu for the work he's been able to do and knows what his caliber of player can produce.

Now, it's about continuing to seize it.

"He knows exactly what we want him to do," Minter said of Tuipulotu. "He also has the playmaking skillset about him too. I think the really good players, can they do what you want them do but do they also have that little that magic where they also go out of the realm and make a play.

"They're really good, productive players, I think they've always been that way. I think he can be that, he's done a great job of just taking advantage of the opportunity," Minter added.

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Tuipulotu has garnered plenty of praise as the offseason has gone along from coaches and teammates alike a year after leading the team in sacks.

And for the young edge rusher much of the expectation for this year remains the same — keep being the Tuipulotu they know.

"I just want him to be himself," Minter said. "I think he's got a great personality, he's got a great vibe to him. Guys like being around him, guys like talking to him, guys don't mind when he speaks every once in a while.

"He's ascending into that type of role, and ultimately I just want him to be himself," Minter added. "If he's the best version of himself, we'll be happy with what we get out of it."

Minter mentioned the growth in things off the field as he does speak up on occasion and has become a respected voice entering his third year.

It's something that has been noticeable even to someone like the veteran leader of the room in Khalil Mack.

He expects it to continue to grow more and more as time goes on, as his voice does hold a lot of weight in the room when he does talk.

"Tu, he's a quiet dude. But when he speaks up, everybody listens," Mack said. "It's good to see him coming into himself from a vocal standpoint. Especially when we're on the field or on the sideline, we'll get the call and he'll kind of call it.

"He's always kind of been that guy anyway. Just want to see more from him in that standpoint," Mack added. "But all in all, everybody kind of knows each other now so there's a better cohesion out there as a group."

As even keel as they come, the 22-year-old knows what's in front of him.

But he's responding to it like he always has.

"He doesn't put too much pressure on himself, but he knows that it's time," Minter said. "He's really done that already, he's started a bunch of games here so it's not completely new to him. I'm really excited about where he's at."

Tuipulotu added: "Just not making it as big as it is. It's a game, we've been playing this for a while, and we love it. It's not hard to go out there and do your best, this is what we do, this is what we love to do. It's easy to go out there and just play ball and play hard."

His goal is simple this year, even with a bigger role — play up to the level of the future Hall of Famer on the other side and wreak havoc.

"My standard is to play [like] Khalil. He is the standard," Tuipulotu said. "I'm doing my best so there's no drop off like, 'Khalil is here, let's slide to him.'

"We got to make it so there's two elite edge rushers on the side where we could both go and dominate, they don't know who to slide to or who to double, who to chip. He's the standard, that's what I'm chasing."

Expectations for Colson in Year 2

This training camp has gotten off to a much different start than his first for Junior Colson.

The second-year linebacker began his rookie training camp on the Non-Football Injury list after undergoing an appendectomy shortly before it kicked off.

Now in Year 2, the linebacker has enjoyed a full offseason and has been rolling through the beginning portion of camp.

Minter has been pleased with the work Colson has been doing and talked about what he expects to see from the young linebacker as things get rolling.

"One, that he's just back to what I think he can be, what he thinks he can be, what I know he can be, what he knows he can be, what we all know he can be.

"Just that consistency," Minter added. "I think he's been great so far during OTAs."

Colson played in 11 games his rookie season, starting one, and really saw his action pick up in the second half of the year.

There's a lot to sort out when it comes to playing time alongside Daiyan Henley when the regular season comes along, but Minter hopes Colson continues on the track he's on and focus on what's in front of him.

"Just building on it and not worrying about what's going on around him," Minter said. "Focusing on himself, put himself in the best position and letting the competition shake out over the next, I think we're 49 or 50 days until the first game."

When asked about the linebacker group and whether he planned on a possible rotation similar to last season, Minter explained what goes into the decision.

"I think if there's more than one guy that can play the position and they're really close, it's like, 'Okay what is this guy's best 25 plays look like and this guy's best 25 plays look like versus one player's 50 plays,'" Minter said. "It's different than a lot of people, but I just think there are guys that maybe graduate from that, Daiyan is going into this year a little bit different level like, 'We don't want to take that guy off the field.'

"I think when there's other positions, maybe not in that realm, the more the better," Minter added.

Last season saw Denzel Perryman and Troy Dye also log over 300 defensive snaps and Colson over 200 as each stepped up when injuries struck.

However the position shakes out, it's one of the many that will be a competitive group throughout camp.