Just ahead of their Week 7 game against the Indianapolis Colts, the Los Angeles Chargers made a series of roster moves in order to get a couple of defensive veterans back on the active roster.
The team moved Khalil Mack and Denzel Perryman off injured reserve on Saturday and to make room for them, the team released edge rusher Caleb Murphy. It usually doesn't strike a nerve with a fanbase when an undrafted player is released, but Murphy held a key role on this team.
Murphy was one of the Chargers' best special teams players and his absence was glaring during Sunday's loss. Without him, the Chargers had to move Tuli Tuipolotu onto kickoff coverage, where he had played exactly zero snaps this season. With the Chargers looking to get back into the game, this happened.
Ameer Abdullah with the big return!
INDvsLAC on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/RveaNkZKIU
— NFL (@NFL) October 19, 2025
It's a good thing to have Mack and Perryman back in the lineup, but Joe Hortiz and Jim Harbaugh likely should have chosen a different player to release.
The New England Patriots seemed to recognize this when they jumped onto the waiver wire to grab Murphy before the Chargers could sign him back to the practice squad. In New England, Murphy will reunite with head coach Mike Vrabel, who he played for with the Tennessee Titans.
Daniel Popper, who covers the Chargers for The Athletic, described the situation perfectly here:
From last night's Hops With Pop postgame show, on Caleb Murphy and roster managementhttps://t.co/BGYdJVqpnp pic.twitter.com/QJvtXaPWes
— Daniel Popper (@danielrpopper) October 20, 2025
The Chargers have made some questionable decisions while building and handling their roster this season. This is another one for that list.
READ: Chargers' Week 7 winners and losers
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