Tony

Jefferson

Jefferson un-retired in 2024 and joined the Chargers on a one-year deal. He ended up opening the year on the practice squad but was later signed to the active roster. He would go on to appear in eight regular season games while making four starts and racked up 27 tackles and one TFL in limited action. The team’s decision to bring him back doesn’t mean he’ll be a lock to make the 53-man roster. Jefferson will likely still have to compete for a spot in training camp.

Jefferson has been on the Chargers practice squad after spending all of training camp with them. The veteran safety could see an increased role in Week 4 against the Chiefs, with starter Derwin James set to serve a one-game suspension. Jefferson hasn’t played a regular-season snap since 2022.

Jefferson is in the midst of an NFL comeback after spending 2022 away from the game. The veteran safety played on 109 snaps in the preseason, per PFF, totaling 10 tackles and one forced fumble. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports Jefferson is expected to join the team’s practice squad, meaning a return to the 53-man roster could be in store down the line.

Jefferson last played for the Giants in 2022, totaling 22 tackles and one pass breakup in nine games. The 32-year-old vet played four seasons with the Ravens under head coach John Harbaugh and will now join Jim Harbaugh as a member of the Chargers. Chargers GM Joe Hortiz also spent time with the Jefferson, as Hortiz worked with the Ravens in multiple roles from 1998 to 2023. Jefferson can provide a veteran presence to the Chargers’ secondary but is unlikely to earn a significant role outside of making the occasional spot start.

Jefferson has ties to several members of the Chargers staff. Jim Harbaugh is the older brother of Jefferson’s former coach, John Harbaugh, and Chargers GM Joe Hortiz was in Baltimore during Jefferson’s previous tenure with the team. After sitting out the 2023 season, Jefferson has decided he’s interested in a return and will get a chance to leave his mark with the Chargers in the coming weeks. Jefferson will be 32 this season. While his best days as a player are likely behind him, his experience as a starter would bring added value to any roster that’s looking to add depth in its secondary.

Jefferson has plans to play this upcoming season, according to Schultz. He has been training and intends to talk to teams after he spent last season with the Ravens as a scouting intern. In his playing career, Jefferson spent four seasons with the Cardinals before becoming a full time starter with the Ravens for two seasons. After that, Jefferson spent 2020 out of football and bounced between the 49ers, Ravens again, and Giants for two seasons. He retired and joined the Ravens as a scouting intern, but is now looking to return. The safety market still has players like Jamal Adams and Justin Simmons available and Jefferson has thrown his name into the mix.

Jefferson briefly played for the Giants last season, losing most of the year to a foot injury but playing as a reserve in the playoffs. He played four years in Arizona and four years with the Ravens, and was a starter for the Ravens in 2017 and 2018. At his peak, Jefferson was a great run defender with enough coverage ability to handle most tight ends. He’s joining Baltimore’s scouting staff.

Jefferson made a few appearances for Baltimore while the team dealt with an avalanche of injuries in their secondary last year. Before that, he went without a team for the 2020 season. Jefferson was a capable backup last year, but Baltimore drafting Kyle Hamilton ultimately spelled the end of his time with the Ravens. He will look to find a roster spot after teams cut down to their 53-man squads.

Out of the league in 2020, 2021 saw Jefferson pressed into snaps for the Ravens’ injury-ravaged secondary. He made six total appearances between Baltimore and San Francisco. Now on the wrong side of 30, Jefferson will have work to do to keep his 53-man roster spot.

Jefferson, 29, hasn’t played since 2019, when he injured his ACL during his third season with Baltimore. If he’s fully recovered from the ACL tear, Jefferson should be a solid addition to the 49ers secondary, which in 2020 was graded by Pro Football Focus as the league’s worst coverage unit.