After injuries kept defensive lineman Da’Shawn Hand off the field more than he was on it in the first five seasons of his NFL career, the former Alabama standout had a 39-game playing streak going. But that will end on Sunday.
On Saturday, the Los Angeles Chargers placed Hand on injured reserve, and he will miss Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins and at least the next three contests.
The NFL’s injured-reserve regulations require a player to miss at least four games. After facing the Dolphins, the Chargers play the Indianapolis Colts, Minnesota Vikings and Tennessee Titans. The earliest that Hand could return to the field is on Nov. 9 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
A groin injury that limited Hand to four snaps in Sunday’s 27-10 loss to the Washington Commanders has sidelined the defensive lineman.
Hand had started all five games for Los Angeles this season, matching his number of starting assignments in the previous six seasons combined.
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A fourth-round draft choice after playing for Alabama’s CFP national-championship team in 2017, Hand made the Pro Football Writers of America’s All-Rookie team for the 2018 NFL season, when he played in 13 of the Detroit Lions’ 16 games.
But in the next four seasons, Hand played in 18 of the 66 regular-season games as injuries dogged his career.
In 2023, Hand signed with the Dolphins during training camp and started the season on the practice squad. But he played in the final 16 games of the regular season and a playoff contest.
Hand followed that by playing in every game in the 2024 season after signing with the Dolphins again as a free agent. Hand got on the field for 563 defensive snaps and 108 special-teams plays, both career-high marks.
Hand recorded career highs with 31 tackles, five tackles for loss and four quarterback hits in 2024. He also had the fifth sack of his career. That led to a one-year, $2.35 million contract from Los Angeles in free agency.
The Chargers and Dolphins square off at noon CDT Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Another former Alabama defensive lineman could take some of the snaps formerly played by Hand.
A fourth-round draft choice in 2024, Justin Eboigbe had never played more than 27 defensive snaps in a game in his NFL career until Sunday, when he played 42 against the Commanders. Eboigbe recorded a sack in that game for the second straight week. He did not have a sack in his career before those two.
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