Los Angeles Chargers lose Deane Leonard, list Tuli Tuipulotu as questionable for Week 1 vs. Cardinals
Cornerback Deane Leonard is ruled out with an abdomen issue while edge rusher Tuli Tuipulotu is listed as questionable with a hip injury for the Chargers’ Sunday home opener against the Arizona Cardinals at SoFi Stadium.
On September 12 the Chargers posted their final Week 1 injury report, describing it as “as clean as you could ask for.” The bulletin confirms that cornerback Deane Leonard will miss Sunday’s game, while edge rusher Tuli Tuipulotu is listed as questionable after a limited practice week. The report comes from Bolts From The Blue.
According to the official Chargers release, Leonard’s abdomen injury kept him out of all practices, and he is officially out for the contest. Tuipulotu’s hip problem limited him for three straight sessions, earning a questionable designation. The team cleared Khalil Mack (rest), RJ Mickens (ankle), Keaton Mitchell (hamstring) and Brenen Thompson (hip) for Sunday. The matchup will be played at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood with kickoff set for 1:25 p.m. PT, as detailed on Chargers.com.
The injury news arrives as the Bolts debut new coordinators and recent free-agent signings in their season-opening home game, a rare NFC opener for Los Angeles. Fans will be watching not only the on-field product but also how the coaching staff adjusts the defense with key pieces missing.
Leonard out, Tuipulotu doubtful – details from the report
Deane Leonard, the Chargers’ fourth cornerback and top special-teams coverage player, missed the entire practice week due to an abdomen injury and has been ruled out for Sunday’s game. His absence removes a veteran presence from the third defensive phase and forces the coaching staff to look deeper into the secondary.
Edge rusher Tuli Tuipulotu entered camp with a lower-body issue and has been a limited participant all week. The hip injury that lingered through practice earned him a questionable status, leaving his availability for the pass rush in doubt.
Other players listed on the report are all cleared to play: Khalil Mack returned from a rest designation, RJ Mickens is fully healthy after an ankle concern, Keaton Mitchell recovered from a hamstring strain, and Brenen Thompson is cleared from a hip issue. These updates were confirmed by the Chargers’ official injury page.
How the depth chart may shift
With Leonard unavailable, the Chargers are expected to elevate a backup for the secondary. The Bolts’ depth chart notes Nikko Reed and Kaiir Elam as the next two cornerbacks, with Reed likely receiving the nod because of his greater experience in O’Leary’s defense.
The unofficial depth chart released ahead of Week 1 lists the cornerback rotation as Tarheeb Still or Cam Hart, Donte Jackson or Cam Hart, followed by Leonard and Rodney Shelley as backups. Leonard’s removal pushes Reed or Elam into the active roster, reshaping the defensive backfield for the Cardinals game.
On the edge, Tuipulotu’s questionable status could see him sit behind starter Khalil Mack and backup Akheem Mesidor if the hip does not hold up. The Chargers’ 3-4 scheme relies on depth at the edge, so any limitation may force early-game adjustments that could affect pass-rush pressure against Arizona’s offense.
Los Angeles fans will feel the ripple of Leonard’s loss on special teams and the secondary, especially as the Bolts aim to protect a home-field advantage in a high-profile NFC opener. Tuipulotu’s hip question mark adds uncertainty to the pass rush, forcing head coach Jim Harbaugh to lean on depth and test the new defensive scheme in front of a passionate SoFi crowd.