IR
Injury Shoulder
Est. Return 2/9/2026
2024 Defense Stats
TCKL
29
SACKS
0.0
INT
0
FF
0
TD
0
2025 Projections
2025 Fantasy Outlook
Much was expected of the Michigan product during his rookie year, as it was presumed coach Jim Harbaugh's starting inside linebacker in college would immediately reprise that role in the NFL after being selected in the third round of the 2024 draft. Instead, Colson rarely saw the field, yielding time to 2023 third-round pick Daiyan Henley and veteran linebacker Denzel Perryman. While Perryman was retained on a relatively cheap deal this offseason, Colson will be given every opportunity to start opposite Henley as the Chargers push to get younger on defense. Read Past Outlooks
Signed a four-year, $6.03 million contract with the Chargers in May of 2024.
Placed on season-ending IR
The Chargers placed Colson (shoulder) on injured reserve Tuesday, ruling him out for the entire 2025 season,
ANALYSIS
Head coach Jim Harbaugh said Wednesday that Colson requires shoulder surgery, per Daniel Popper of The Athletic. Colson faced high expectations upon being selected by Los Angeles in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, but he started just one of his 11 appearances, finishing the year with a disappointing 29 tackles (15 solo) and one pass defended. He'll now focus on getting fully healthy for the 2026 campaign, but being forced to miss all of Year 2 looks like a significant blow to Colson's odds of developing into a starter at middle linebacker.
Head coach Jim Harbaugh said Wednesday that Colson requires shoulder surgery, per Daniel Popper of The Athletic. Colson faced high expectations upon being selected by Los Angeles in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, but he started just one of his 11 appearances, finishing the year with a disappointing 29 tackles (15 solo) and one pass defended. He'll now focus on getting fully healthy for the 2026 campaign, but being forced to miss all of Year 2 looks like a significant blow to Colson's odds of developing into a starter at middle linebacker.
NFL Stats
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2024 NFL Game Log
2024
2024 NFL Game Log
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Snap Distribution / Depth Chart
Snap Counts
Snap %
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2024 Junior Colson Split Stats
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Measurables Review
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How do Junior Colson's measurables compare to other linebackers?
This section compares his draft workout metrics with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average.
Height
6' 3"Weight
247 lbsBroad Jump
0 inBench Press
0 repsHand Length
9.38 inArm Length
33.50 in
2024 Fantasy Outlook
With both Eric Kendricks and Kenneth Murray situated in new locales this offseason, Colson enters his rookie campaign as the team's de-facto starting middle linebacker. That he reprises that role for his college coach, Jim Harbaugh is noteworthy as was the draft capital (third-round pick) invested in the Michigan product. Colson doesn't quite have the measureables (6-2, 238 pounds) that would necessarily intimidate defenses, but he's agile and attacks a lane with conviction. Harbaugh's last stint in the NFL coincided with arguably the greatest stretch of 49ers linebackers in franchise history and the 21-year-old is poised to kickstart the positional lineage now in Los Angeles.
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Notches 29 tackles in rookie season
Colson finished with 29 tackles (15 solo) and one pass defensed in 11 appearances during the 2024 regular season.
ANALYSIS
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Active for SNF
Colson (ankle) is active for Sunday night's contest against Kansas City.
ANALYSIS
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Activated off IR
The Chargers activated Colson (ankle) from injured reserve Saturday.
ANALYSIS
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Could return Sunday
Colson (ankle) is listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Chiefs.
ANALYSIS
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Designated to return from IR
The Chargers designated Colson (ankle) to return from injured reserve Wednesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
ANALYSIS
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Projected for triple-digit tackles
Colson, who the Chargers selected in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, has a chance to be a starter and garner a prolific tackle total as a rookie, Chad Reuter of NFL.com envisions.
ANALYSIS
Colson played for new Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh at Michigan, and Reuter cites the linebacker's familiarity with the boss's expectations and system as part of the reason why Colson landed in Los Angeles. Reuter notes Colson, who racked up 257 total stops in three college seasons, should be able to clog up running lanes and use his speed to force running backs outside, and he envisions the rookie cracking the 100-tackle threshold right out of the gate in his NFL career.
Colson played for new Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh at Michigan, and Reuter cites the linebacker's familiarity with the boss's expectations and system as part of the reason why Colson landed in Los Angeles. Reuter notes Colson, who racked up 257 total stops in three college seasons, should be able to clog up running lanes and use his speed to force running backs outside, and he envisions the rookie cracking the 100-tackle threshold right out of the gate in his NFL career.