Junior Colson has been placed on injured reserve due to a serious ankle injury sustained during the Week 9 victory over the Cleveland Browns, sidelining him for at least four weeks. As a key depth piece in the Chargers' defense, his absence is significant, especially with other linebackers like Denzel Perryman and Nick Niemann also dealing with injuries. Colson was a notable draft pick for head coach Jim Harbaugh, having recently contributed to a national championship-winning defense at the University of Michigan. His injury comes at a critical time as the Chargers navigate the AFC playoff race and approach the trade deadline.