Chargers place Danny Woodhead on reserve-injured list

The San Diego Chargers announced they have placed running back Danny Woodhead (torn ACL; knee) on “Reserve-Injured.” He was injured late in the first quarter of the Chargers’ 38-14 win over the Jacksonville jaguars on Sunday.

Woodhead, who, was having a great start to the game, helped set up the team’s first touchdown with a 23-yard run to Jacksonville’s three-yard line. A week earlier Woodhead scored a touchdown against the Chiefs in the Chargers’ Sept. 11 season opener in Kansas City.

In 2014, he was placed on the IR list after suffering a broken ankle during the Chargers’ third game in Buffalo. He missed the rest of the season after that injury.

In the game against the Chiefs the Chargers lost wide receiver Keenan Allen for the season when he was injured in the closing minutes of the first half. He too suffered a torn ACL, in his right knee, along with some damage to his cartilage.

The Chargers used his move to the IR to move their first pick in the draft, Joey Bosa, onto the active roster although he has been hampered by a hamstring injury.

With Woodhead out for the season the Chargers have acquired former Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Griff Whalen. He was with Indianapolis for four seasons, although he spent his rookie season on the IR.  Whalen was an undrafted free agent out of Stanford.

His career totals include 45 catches for 487 yards (10.8 avg.) with three touchdowns.

Like Woodhead, Whalen has experience as a kick and punt returner. He has 25 career kickoff returns for 645 yards (25.8 avg.) with a long of 50 and 46 career punt returns for 376 yards (8.2 avg.) with a long of 51.

He also played in two post-season games with the Colts in 2013, catching seven passes for 93 yards.

Whalen is a native of Sylvania, Ohio. He will wear No. 83 for the Chargers.

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UPDATE: The Chargers just announced they have signed veteran running back Dexter McCluster. He is a versatile back with six years experience, the Kansas City Chiefs (2010-13) and the Tennessee Titans (2014-15).

McCluster is 5-8, 170 pounds and played his college football at Ole Miss. He was a second-round pick of the Chiefs (36^th overall), and has experience as a running back, wide receiver, kick and punt returner. McCluster has scored 12 career touchdowns, including three as a punt returner.

In 2010 McCluster returned a punt 94 yards to score a touchdown for the Chiefs against the Chargers in the season-opening victory for the Chiefs.

McCluster was named to the Pro Bowl in 2013 and earned second-team All-Pro honors after leading the NFL with 686 punt return yards while returning two punts for touchdowns. His career totals include 247 carries for 1,040 yards (4.2 avg.) with two touchdowns; 229 receptions for 1,957 yards (8.5 avg.) with seven touchdowns; 125 punt returns for 1,331 yards (10.6 avg.) and three touchdowns, and 65 kickoff returns for 1,372 yards (21.1 avg.). He is a three-time AFC Special Teams Player of the Week.

At Ole Miss. McCluster was a two-time All-SEC performer with 4,089 all-purpose yards, second in school history. As a senior he was a third-team All-America as a senior, and twice was named MVP of the Cotton Bowl.

To make room for McCluster on the roster, the Chargers waived wide receiver and kick returner Isaiah Burse.

The Bolts also added a tight end to the practice squad, signing Austin Traylor, a rookie from Wisconsin who went to training camp with Dallas as an undrafted free agent. To make room for Traylor on the practice squad, the Chargers released tackle Austin Shepherd.

Photos by Claudia Gestro