Jerry Tillery was waived by the Los Angeles Chargers after recording just eight tackles and no starts in 2022.
After Tillery missed two days of practice due to personal reasons, the team announced the move on Thursday night.
“Jerry has been a valuable member of our organization since arriving in 2019, and I want to thank him for all his contributions to the Chargers,” said general manager Tom Telesco. “This was not an easy decision, but, after careful consideration, it was a necessary one that is in the best interest of both the team and the player. Best wishes to Jerry in his future endeavors.”
Tillery was drafted 28th overall in 2019 and spent his entire tenure with the Bolts starting 29 of 54 games played with 106 tackles and 10.5 sacks.
Given Austin Johnson’s injury this week, the move comes as a bit of a surprise, but it’s not surprising given Tillery’s usage this season. Inactive in Week 9, Tillery had played in seven games and hadn’t played more than half his team’s defensive snaps in any game.
As a result, Tillery’s fifth-year option was declined this spring. He was set to earn $2.05 million in base salary this season. If he clears waivers, he will become a free agent.