Chargers News: LA's New Safety Addition Suffers Apparent Injury During Practice

Some awful luck.

Recent Bolts' waiver claim Jaylinn Hawkins was expected to serve a role for his new team's secondary when LA signed him earlier this week. 

His anticipated debut for the team might now have to wait after reports surfaced that he went down with an injury during his first Charger practice. 

One day after being claimed on waivers, in his first practice with the Chargers, Jaylinn Hawkins has been carted off… https://t.co/tGj7hBxc7d

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 19, 2023

Hawkins had the best season of his career in 2022 after he appeared in 16 games for the Falcons for the back half of their defense last season. 

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In his appearances, Hawkins nabbed two interceptions and forced a fumble, displaying his ball-hawking abilities with six additional passes defended. 

Eighty-four total tackles also indicated that the safety isn't afraid of contact or making plays on ball carriers as the last line of defense. 

Hawkins hasn't seen much run this season due to Atlanta's improved secondary, thanks in large part to Jessie Bates III's signing from the Bengals. 

The young safety only racked up a few tackles in two games to start this year as a result of his team's depth at his position improving. 

The moves green-lit a surprising but understandable placement on waivers for Hawkins, where the Chargers swooped in to take the former Cal Bear.

Though he was projected to join his fellow alum Keenan Allen on LA's roster starting this week, this sudden injury puts a wrench in such a plan. 

The 26-year-old would've helped a secondary that just got diced up by CeeDee Lamb and the Dallas Cowboys. 

Such a move to get him made even more sense after the Bolts finally gave up on the J.C. Jackson experiment despite his exorbitant free-agent contract. 

We hope the injury doesn't keep Hawkins out too long, not just for this year but for his NFL future. 

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