Chargers place defensive lineman Deane Leonard on injured reserve – Daily News

GLENDALE, Ariz. – The Chargers placed defensive back Deane Leonard on injured reserve Monday afternoon, one of several moves aimed at bolstering their health in the secondary before facing the Arizona Cardinals. Leonard, who also plays a key role on special teams, has a hamstring injury.

Leonard will miss four games, including Monday night's game against Arizona.

Additionally, the Chargers signed cornerbacks Dicaprio Bootle and Shaun Wade from the practice squad to the active roster. They also activated center Sam Mustipher and wide receiver Jalen Reagor for Monday's game to add depth because of a series of injuries at the positions.

The Chargers were particularly thin at the cornerback position, with starter Asante Samuel Jr. placed on injured reserve due to a shoulder injury and Kristian Fulton dealing with a hamstring injury. Samuel also had to sit out the Chargers' win over the Denver Broncos in Week 6. Fulton was limited by his injury against Denver.

Jesse Minter, the Chargers' defensive coordinator, urged rookies Cam Hart and Tarheeb Still to play longer against the Broncos instead of Samuel and Fulton. The Chargers shut out the Broncos for three quarters, then lost track of quarterback Bo Nix too often in the fourth, but were able to pull out a 23-16 win.

“Big shout out to Cam,” Minter said last week of Hart, who made his first NFL start in Week 6 in place of Samuel. “He played really well. Just like Tarheeb, freshmen come in not really knowing how much they will play in their rookie year. When the opportunity came, he was ready.”

Hart and Still were each selected in the fifth round of the NFL Draft in April.

ADDITIONAL MOVES

Fulton was active for Monday's game, as was wide receiver Ladd McConkey. But the Chargers didn't have three potential targets for quarterback Justin Herbert. Wide receivers Derius Davis (hamstring) and Quentin Johnston (ankle) and tight end Hayden Hurst (groin) were inactive due to injuries. …

The Chargers did not place fullback Joey Bosa on injured reserve despite a serious hip injury he suffered in the first game of their 20-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 3, but he was sidelined for the third straight game on Monday suspend. Tuli Tuipulotu has replaced Bosa in the starting eleven.