Chargers sign yet another former Raiders linebacker ahead of Week 2

The Las Vegas Raiders, coming off a Week 1 victory against the New England Patriots, are set to face the Los Angeles Chargers in a Week 2 primetime Monday Night Football matchup at Allegiant Stadium. This game features two AFC West division rivals with significant recent crossover in personnel.

The Chargers recently suffered a key injury, as linebacker Denzel Perryman—a former Chargers draft pick who later joined the Raiders before returning to Los Angeles—sustained a high-ankle sprain that is expected to sideline him for 4-6 weeks. In response, the Chargers signed former Raiders linebacker Kana’i Mauga to their practice squad, releasing Nyheim Hines to make room.

Mauga previously spent the 2022 season on the Raiders’ practice squad before being on their active roster for the next two seasons. During his time with Las Vegas, he appeared in 17 games, primarily contributing on special teams—recording 306 special teams snaps compared to just 11 defensive snaps. After being waived by the Raiders prior to the 2025 NFL Draft, Mauga briefly went unsigned before joining the Chargers’ practice squad following Perryman’s injury.

With the Chargers currently having only four healthy linebackers on their active roster—only three of whom played defensively in Week 1—Mauga could be elevated to the active roster for Monday’s game. While not expected to play a significant role on defense, he may contribute on special teams against his former team, adding another layer of familiarity between the two rivals.