Chargers safety Tony Jefferson feeling ‘renewed’ for his 11th NFL season

EL SEGUNDO — When veteran safety Tony Jefferson ended his one-season stint as a scout for the Baltimore Ravens last year, he jumped at the opportunity to sign with the Chargers as a free agent and continue his career as a football player. It wasn’t as simple as putting on the pads again, though.

For starters, Jefferson acknowledged Tuesday that he was out of shape as the Chargers’ mandatory minicamp began last June. He hoped no one would notice since the Chargers were taking a chance on him by g him to a one-year contract after his one-season sabbatical.

Training camp wasn’t a whole lot better for Jefferson. He injured his hamstring and sat out one of the Chargers’ three preseason games. He recovered well enough by the third and final August game, turning in a monster performance against the Dallas Cowboys that ensured his place on the roster.

Jefferson had a team-leading 14 tackles with one sack of Dallas quarterback Trey Lance, plus two interceptions and one forced fumble in the Chargers’ 26-19 victory in Arlington, Texas last August. He recalled that game fondly when speaking with reporters Tuesday after the first day of OTAs.

“I knew that last preseason game it was all or nothing,” Jefferson said. “They let me rest up. I had almost two weeks off to let the hammy rest. I went out there and felt good. It was funny, the younger guys on the Cowboys were like, ‘Relax, bro. You’re, like, 38 years old.’ I made my case. I’ve got a family, too.”

In fact, Jefferson was 32 at the time, a 10-year veteran who played 113 games in the NFL with the Arizona Cardinals, the Ravens, the San Francisco 49ers, the Ravens (again) and the New York Giants. He retired after the 2022 season and spent 2023 scouting for the Ravens.

After playing eight games with the Chargers, and making four late-season starts, Jefferson is back for an 11th NFL season. He signed a one-season contract on March 24. Like last season, he’s likely to be a depth player behind safeties Derwin James Jr., Alohi Gilman and Elijah Molden.

“I feel renewed, I feel fresh, having an offseason under me (and) being with ‘Herb’” Jefferson said, referring to Ben Herbert, the Chargers’ strength and conditioning coach whose official title is executive director of player performance. “The longer I’m with him, the longer I’m going to play.”

Of his one-year break, the Chula Vista native said, “I think, actually, taking a year off helped me in a way. Everything that hurt stopped hurting and I was able to build on being fresh. Staying healthy is a big part of being with ‘Herb.’ I think sticking with that program even when we leave (in the offseason) is key.

“I love the way my body is feeling right now.”

SLATER ABSENT

Organized team activities, or OTAs, are voluntary, but left tackle Rashawn Slater’s absence was noteworthy Tuesday. Slater is going into the final year of his rookie contract and has played well enough so far in his career that he’s expected to sign a long-term contract extension.

The Chargers picked up the fifth year option on his contract on April 29, 2024, but so far the team and the player haven’t agreed on an extension beyond the 2025 season. It wouldn’t be the first time the Chargers have delayed a contract extension for one of their top players.

James, in 2022, and quarterback Justin Herbert, in 2023, signed their long-term extensions during training camp. History is likely to repeat itself with Slater, a first-round draft pick in 2021 from Northwestern, expected to sign his lucrative, long-term contract extension sooner than later.