EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- In a surprising reversal, the Los Angeles Chargers are not placing tight end Charlie Kolar on injured reserve after he injured his left forearm in Sunday's 26-14 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.
Coach Jim Harbaugh said Monday that Kolar would go on injured reserve along with tight end David Njoku, but Kolar's surgery Monday changed his prognosis, and he will remain on the active roster.
Still, Harbaugh said Wednesday that Kolar won't play Sunday against the Buffalo Bills, or practice Wednesday.
With just one healthy tight end on the active roster in Oronde Gadsden, the Chargers signed tight end Hayden Rucci on Tuesday, poaching him from Jacksonville's practice squad.
Rucci is familiar with this Chargers system, having played four games in Miami last season under Mike McDaniel, now offensive coordinator for the Chargers.
Rucci will likely be ready to contribute as early as Sunday and could be a big help in getting Los Angeles' struggling offense back on track. Gadsden struggles as a run blocker, which puts the offense at a significant disadvantage. Having Rucci, who is already familiar with the system and thrives as a blocker, gives this offense some hope to be multidimensional.
