The Los Angeles Chargers are currently on their bye week before they return for Thanksgiving week and a showdown against their division rivals, the Las Vegas Raiders.
Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz has been active in his first two seasons at the head of Los Angeles' front office. Hortiz mentioned during his introductory press conference following his hiring that he will always be searching for ways to improve the roster, specifically churning over the bottom of the roster.
"You do it through free agency. You do it pre-draft, post-draft in free agency. You do those summer signings, the cap casualties," Hortiz said, "We're always going to be looking to make this team better."
The Chargers, while rookie Omarion Hampton is on injured reserve, have Kimani Vidal as the only running back signed to the active roster.
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The Houston Texans made the puzzling decision to waive their former fourth-round selection running back Dameon Pierce. Pierce had a phenomenal rookie season where he rushed for 939 yards and 4 touchdowns. Pierce thrived his rookie season under then-Texans offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton's power run scheme.
Pierce has never regained his rookie form after the Texans switched a more west coast outside zone running scheme under offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik in 2023 and 2024. It has been clear that Pierce was no longer in favor or a fit in Houston and it was a shock that he wasn't moved before the season or the trade deadline.
Texans waived RB Dameon Pierce.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 20, 2025
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Pierce has long been on the radar of Chargers fans and content creators as a possible trade target due to an anticipated better fit in Greg Roman's offense paired with Pierce's contributions on special teams as a kick returner the past 3 seasons.
Some names I brainstormed as possible Chargers RB trade targets outside of the obvious Breece Hall/Alvin Kamara tier:
-Jerome Ford
-Keaton Mitchell
-Dameon Pierce
-Blake Corum
-Tony Pollard
-Jaylen Wright
-Tyler Allgeier
— Alex Insdorf (@alexinsdorf99) October 12, 2025
The #Chargers are 3-0, but they have injuries to Khalil Mack and Najee Harris to manage.
I would like to see the Chargers trade a conditional 6th-round pick to the Eagles for EDGE Azeez Ojulari and a 7th-round pick to the Texans for RB Dameon Pierce. Both are healthy inactives.
— Camden (@Camden_Cash) September 22, 2025
Pierce will be subjected to the NFL waiver wire as all players are following the trade deadline. It is currently unknown what the demand for Pierce will be on the waiver wire given he was not traded prior to the trade deadline.
The current draft order dictates the waiver wire priority order, Los Angeles currently sits at 22nd. Teams in contention with running back needs but with higher priority than the Chargers include Los Angeles' rival, the Kansas City Chiefs.
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