Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver DJ Chark will miss at least the next four games after being placed on injured reserve on Saturday.
Chark had missed the entire week of practice because of a hip injury and already was ruled out of the season opener Sunday against the visiting Las Vegas Raiders. The Chargers have a bye in Week 5 and visit the Denver Broncos on Oct. 13 in Week 6.
The Chargers had signed Chark, who turns 28 on Sept. 23, as a free agent in May after losing veterans Keenan Allen (Chicago Bears) and Mike Williams (New York Jets). Chark was listed as a starter on the depth chart along with Quentin Johnston, their top draft pick in 2023, and Joshua Palmer, a third-round selection in 2021. Los Angeles drafted Ladd McConkey in the second round in April.
Chark, 27, caught 35 passes for 525 yards and five touchdowns in 15 games (11 starts) last season with the Carolina Panthers.
He has 212 receptions for 3,069 yards and 23 scores in 69 games (51 starts) with the Panthers, Detroit Lions (2022) and Jacksonville Jaguars (2018-21), who drafted the 2019 Pro Bowl selection in the second round in 2018.
In a corresponding move Saturday, the Chargers signed tight end Eric Tomlinson to the active roster and also elevated linebacker Shaquille Quarterman from the practice squad for Sunday’s game.
Tomlinson, 32, has played in 85 career games (53 starts) for the New York Jets (2016-18), Oakland Raiders (2019), New England Patriots (2019), New York Giants (2019-20), Baltimore Ravens (2020-21) and Denver Broncos (2022). He has 27 receptions for 280 yards and three touchdowns. He was released by the Indianapolis Colts on Aug. 27.
Quarterman, 26, played the past four seasons in Jacksonville after the Jaguars selected him in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of Miami. He has played in 63 games (no starts) and had 54 tackles and one forced fumble.