EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Chargers signed former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris and cornerback Donte Jackson on Wednesday.
The team also re-signed linebackers Denzel Perryman and Troy Dye along with wide receiver Jalen Reagor and added cornerback Benjamin St-Juste, who played one season at Michigan under Jim Harbaugh.
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FILE - Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Troy Dye (43) drops into coverage during the second half an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Greg M. Cooper, File)
FILE - Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Jalen Reagor (89) runs from Arizona Cardinals cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting (23) after catching a pass during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, in Glendale Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York, File)
FILE - Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Donte Jackson (26) celebrates after an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders in Las Vegas, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/John Locher,File)
FILE - Pittsburgh Steelers' Najee Harris in action during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)
And wide receiver Mike Williams is back with the Chargers nearly a year to the day they released him after he tore his ACL in Week 3 of the 2023 season. He split last season between the New York Jets and the Steelers.
Harris brings durability, having started all 68 regular-season games with the Steelers. A first-round pick out of Alabama in 2021, he topped 1,000 yards rushing in each of his first four NFL seasons. He was a Pro Bowl selection as a rookie.
Jackson also comes over from Pittsburgh, where he made 15 starts last year after being traded from Carolina. He had a career-high five interceptions over that span before missing two of the final three games with a back issue. He brings experience to the Chargers' young cornerback group.
Perryman returns for a second straight season. In 2024, he totaled 55 tackles (39 solo), a sack and two tackles for loss. He was part of the NFL's best scoring defense last year when the Chargers allowed just 17.7 points per game. Perryman spent his first six seasons in the league with the Chargers.
St-Juste spent the last four years with Washington, where he started 45 of 54 games and totaled 206 tackles (162 solo) for the Commanders. As a freshman at Michigan, he played 12 games in 2017 before transferring to Minnesota.
Dye was a key contributor on defense last season while making five starts at linebacker. He had career highs in tackles (52), solo tackles (31), sacks (1 1/2) and tackles for loss (two). He was one of just six NFL players last season with 50-plus tackles on defense, multiple sacks and at least five tackles on special teams.
Reagor played in eight games in his first season with the Chargers, making two starts with seven catches for 100 yards.
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FILE - Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Troy Dye (43) drops into coverage during the second half an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Greg M. Cooper, File)
FILE - Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Jalen Reagor (89) runs from Arizona Cardinals cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting (23) after catching a pass during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, in Glendale Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York, File)
FILE - Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Donte Jackson (26) celebrates after an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders in Las Vegas, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/John Locher,File)
FILE - Pittsburgh Steelers' Najee Harris in action during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — There were plenty of questions about how the Carolina Panthers would fare in the postseason.
They repeatedly missed opportunities down the stretch to wrap up the NFC South, only to back into the playoffs with a losing record on the final day of the regular season.
Las Vegas oddsmakers sure didn't believe in the Panthers. Carolina entered the week 200-1 longshots to win the Super Bowl — by far the lowest of any of the 14 teams in the postseason — and a 10 1/2-point home underdog to the Los Angeles Rams in Saturday's wild-card game, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.
But the Panthers proved they were indeed playoff worthy — nearly pulling off a stunning upset.
“We just showed people that we aren’t the old Panthers,” cornerback Mike Jackson said.
They took the high-powered Rams to the brink of elimination before All-Pro quarterback Matthew Stafford pulled out a late 34-31 victory with a 19-yard touchdown pass to Colby Parkinson with 38 seconds left, allowing Los Angeles to move on to the divisional playoffs and abruptly end Carolina's season.
After the game, there was a mixture of pride and pain in the locker room. But above all, there was optimism and hope.
“This is the new standard now. We're going to be a playoff team," defensive lineman and team captain Derrick Brown told his teammates.
“A lot of people didn’t give us a chance,” Jackson said. "I think the spread was something crazy. So, we just showed people who we are, and we got a lot to build on.”
The biggest question entering this season was whether Bryce Young was the right guy to lead the franchise.
The No. 1 pick in 2023 showed he doesn't lack heart, leading six winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime. He now has 12 in the past three seasons, more than anyone named Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes or even Stafford, who denied Young No. 13.
It wasn't always pretty this season for Young, but there's clearly something to build on.
He overcame an early interception Saturday and completed 21 of 40 passes for 264 yards, including a well-placed 7-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Coker with 2:39 left to put the Panthers ahead 31-27. He also fearlessly ran for a 16-yard TD.
“He just showed who he is, man,” Jackson said. “A lot of people talk about how little he is, how he can’t get it done, and it’s just like, he doesn’t listen to it. He is a silent killer, and I love that about him.”
The Panthers finished 8-10 overall, but took a big step — a year before most in and around the organization thought they would be competitive.
It might not have unfolded the way they wanted it to by losing four of five to close the season, but the Panthers snapped a seven-year playoff drought and dethroned four-time NFC South champion Tampa Bay to win their first division title in a decade.
“There is such a mix of emotions right now in the locker room, from guys being proud of what we accomplished and where we got, to being sick about the opportunity that was right there in front of us,” second-year coach Dave Canales said. “And that is going to sting.”
“I didn’t want it to end,” Young said. “It’s a super special group of guys in the locker room. I’m super proud of the way guys responded to adversity.”
There will be mistakes that will be questioned this week, too.
— Why did the Panthers appear to give the Rams receivers so much cushion on Stafford's winning drive?
— Why were they unable to advance the ball a single yard on their final drive with 38 seconds left and three timeouts remaining?
Despite it all, this will go down as a season of growth for a young team.
And the future appears bright.
“They’re really creating a beautiful culture here. Guys are bought in,” safety Nick Scott said. “Hopefully, they will continue to be here and good things will happen in the future.”
After the game, Canales said starting left tackle Ickey Ekwonu suffered a significant right knee injury in the first quarter that caused him to leave the game. The extent of the injury was not immediately known, but it's possible it could impact Ekwonu's availability for training camp.
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Carolina Panthers cornerback Mike Jackson (2) celebrates with teammates after intercepting a pass by Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker (18) walks off the field after a loss to the Los Angeles Rams during an NFL wild-card playoff football game, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales answers questions after an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard (30) kneels on the field after a loss to the Los Angeles Rams in an NFL wild-card playoff football game, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Erik Verduzco)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young answers questions after an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
