The Los Angeles Chargers have decided that their attempt at a reclamation project of a former first-round pick has gone as far as it can go.
On Tuesday, the team chose to bring back Dez Fitzpatrick to the practice squad. The team released him last week after signing wide receiver/return specialist Laviska Shenault. Now, Fitzpatrick is back and to make room, the team parted ways with offensive lineman Alex Leatherwood.
The Chargers turned some heads this offseason when they brought in the Las Vegas Raiders’ former first-round pick. But the Chargers found out the same thing the Raiders and his next team, the Chicago Bears, already knew. Leatherwood isn’t going to help most teams at this stage of his career.
we’ve signed WR Dez Fitzpatrick to the practice squad and released T Alex Leatherwood from the practice squad
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) December 10, 2024
After a solid four-year tenure at Alabama, Leatherwood went with the No. 17 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. But the Raiders moved on after just one season, which was a big red flag.
Chargers part ways with Alex Leatherwood, which could be the end of the road
The Chargers couldn’t find a spot on their offensive line for Leatherwood but chose to sign him to their practice squad, just in case. He obviously hasn’t made enough of an impression to be considered for any more of a role than that, bringing his time in Los Angeles, and quite possibly the NFL, to a close.
Leatherwood has played with four teams now (he also spent a season on the practice squad of the Cleveland Browns) but after a quartet of failed stops, it’s likely he could be out of the league for good. The Chargers decided to see if there was anything he could bring to the table and it appears that there is not.
Fitzpatrick was a fourth-round pick out of Louisville in that same 2021 draft. He has played for the Tennessee Titans and Pittsburgh Steelers and has five career receptions.
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