20 Most Important Chargers of 2025: No. 19 LB Junior Colson
Every day from now until the start of training camp, we're counting down our 20 Most Important Chargers for the 2025 season. We'll recap their 2024 season, look ahead to 2025, and hit on the biggest question facing them this year.
Advertisement
Next up at No. 19 is linebacker Junior Colson.
Background
Position: Linebacker
Age: 22
Experience: 2nd season
2025 cap hit: $1.369 million
2024 recap
Colson was selected in the third round of the 2024 NFL draft out of the University of Michigan. An appendectomy impacted him during training camp, and a hamstring injury eventually landed him on the injured reserve list during the regular season. He played in just 11 games, making one start. Colson recorded 29 total tackles and one pass defended.
2025 outlook
After injuries limited him and struggling to get into a rhythm, Colson enters his sophomore season with many believing he is capable of a breakout campaign. Colson's situation is similar to Daiyan Henley, who also had limited action in his rookie year before becoming a key contributor in Year 2. Colson's familiarity with Jesse Minter's defense could help him thrive in 2025. It will just be a matter of whether he can stay healthy. If he does, he and Haiyan could be one of the better linebacker duos in the league.
Big question: Can Colson replicate Henley's Year 1 to Year 2?
This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: 20 Most Important Chargers of 2025: No. 19 LB Junior Colson
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
9 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Manny happy returns: Tim Tszyu reveals revenge mission
Steely-eyed Tim Tszyu is drawing inspiration from Manny Pacquiao as he strives to emulate boxing's incomparable legend and pen his own epic comeback tale. Tszyu will share top billing with Pacquiao when he fights, literally, to save his career in a mouth-watering world-title rematch with Sebastian Fundora in Las Vegas on Sunday (AEST). While the Australian son of a gun's showdown with Fundora is the co-main bout on a star-studded PBC pay-per-view blockbuster at the MGM Grand, Tszyu knows he remains some way from matching Pacquiao's unrivalled record as an eight-division king. But Tszyu's career trajectory is otherwise eerily similar to the great Filipino's. Pacquiao may now be sitting pretty in boxing's hall of fame but, just like how Tszyu's back-to-back losses to Fundora and Bakhram Murtazaliev have placed the Australian superstar's career at a crossroad, only boxing aficionados remember he also suffered devastating successive setbacks before surging again. American Timothy Bradley Jr controversially stripped Pacquiao of his WBO welterweight strap in 2012 before Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez flatlined him six months later. Rather than throw the towel in, Pacquiao punched on and not only resurrected his reputation but thrust himself into sporting immortality with a succession of wins over Brandon Rios, Bradley in a rematch, Chris Algieri, Adrien Broner and Keith Thurman. He was already star in the boxing world but that second coming cemented Pacquiao's status as a global icon. Tszyu hopes he is on the same path to potential mega-money legacy fights with the likes of Jermell Charlo, Thurman and even possibly pound-for-pound champ Terence Crawford. "There's no such thing as a a successful story without failures," Tszyu said ahead of his date with destiny. "Yeah, a couple of bumps on the road doesn't mean you're completely out. "But this year is going be like a vengeance year. That's the word for me. "The starter was Joey Spencer (in March) and it's going to keep going and keep on rolling." Tszyu vividly recalls being a starry-eyed 14-year-old watching on at the MGM Grand, the iconic venue where he will square off with the "Towering Inferno" Fundora, when Pacquiao KO'd Miguel Cotto to reclaim the WBO strap in 2009. "Yeah, I was that little kid up in the top going 'Manny, Manny, Manny' and he gave me the little wave," Tszyu said. "So hopefully I can do that go back for the next generation and inspire the next person to be fighting at the MGM Grand one day." Knowing it's boom or bust, Tszyu insists he is no longer falling for the play of looking ahead to what - and who - is next. Fundora is his sole focus. "It's different feel about him this time around," he said. "I've had a whole different feeling towards this whole camp. I've literally paused everything in my life, all the external noise is just gone. "When you have that, it's an unbelievable feeling because when you're so obsessed with reaching a certain goal, that's all that there is in this life for me. "It's Fundora, by KO."
Yahoo
9 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Cam Spencer scores 23 points, Memphis Grizzlies lose summer league matchup vs Warriors
Two days off and a practice allowed the Memphis Grizzlies to make some changes heading into their third summer league game in Las Vegas. Memphis brought out a new lineup and came out strong against the Golden State Warriors. Advertisement The Grizzlies led by nine points after the first quarter, but that was the last time Memphis outscored Golden State in a frame. The Warriors won the remaining three quarters and completed a 96-84 win over the Grizzlies at Thomas & Mack Center. Memphis is now 1-2 in three Las Vegas summer league games. Rookies Cedric Coward and Javon Small remained out due to injuries. Neither player has played in Las Vegas. Cam Spencer led the Grizzlies with 23 points on 6-for-10 shooting. Here are three takeaways from the Grizzlies' loss. Grizzlies lineup changes Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo had all of the usual starters available on July 15, but he decided to make lineup tweaks against the Warriors. Rookie Jahmai Mashack started in place of Zyon Pullin, and Will Magnay started over Armando Bacot at center. Advertisement Pullin has struggled most of summer league while playing out of position at point guard for most of his minutes. Bacot has had solid performances, but Magnay was making his summer league debut. Jahmai Mashack's intensity Starting Mashack proved to be the right decision. His energy and effort was evident on both ends of the floor. Mashack continued to show off a jumper that's been better than expected. He knocked down multiple 3-pointers and also attacked the basket. Defensively, Mashack continued to live up to the billing. He finished with three steals and added a block. Jaylen Wells, GG Jackson stats Jaylen Wells continued to play a role that's similar to the one he'll have in the regular season. He didn't have a higher usage or look to be more dominant. Instead, the second-year wing got his shots within the rhythm of the offense while playing off the ball. Advertisement Wells didn't have the most efficient night, finishing with 11 points on 4-for-11 shooting. He did knock down three 3-pointers, but he finished with one assist and no rebounds. Those numbers will need to improve. GG Jackson missed a game while dealing with an illness and return against the Warriors. He got more aggressive as a scorer as the game went on, but it was his passing that stood out. Jackson finished with six assists, which is a massive number for him. His NBA career high is four assists. What's next Memphis has one more scheduled summer league game on July 17 against the Atlanta Hawks (5 p.m. NBA TV). It's safe to say that matchup will be a tough task. Atlanta is 3-0 in summer league action. Advertisement Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC. This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Grizzlies summer league highlights, takeaways in loss vs Warriors
Time Business News
10 minutes ago
- Time Business News
Xavier Watts Could Be the Steal of the Draft
The Atlanta Falcons' revamped leadership and offensive weapons have received much attention as they usher in a new era under head coach Raheem Morris. In the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, Atlanta may have made a major steal by acquiring safety Xavier Watts quietly. As one of the most decorated defenders in recent college football history, the Notre Dame star is entering the NFL. Moreover, as a player who is both mentally prepared, physically refined, and versatile in the draft. Watts' story isn't simply one of talent; it's one of relentless development, elite football intelligence, and a preparation process that left nothing to chance. Watts excelled at Notre Dame with 33 consecutive starts, culminating his career with eye-catching numbers. 188 total tackles (117 solo) 13 interceptions (tied for 3rd-most in school history and the most since 1996) 273 interception return yards, 2 defensive touchdowns, and 18 passes defensed Multiple forced fumbles and fumble recoveries He won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy as the top defensive player in college football and unanimous All-America honors for his breakout 2023 season, which included seven interceptions. In 2024, he made his best 82 tackles of his career, along with six more interceptions, 10 pass breakups, and another pick-six. Watts' Irish career ended with him being a two-time consensus All-American, a Notre Dame team captain, and a key member of one of the country's most respected defenses. Watts trained with Augustine Ume-Ezeoke, the founder of AUE Performance, to prepare for the NFL jump, which is aimed at developing not only stronger athletes but also smarter ones. Ume-Ezeoke, who also worked closely with first-round pick Kelvin Banks Jr., aided Watts in enhancing the exceptional qualities that made him a significant player at Notre Dame. 'College safeties can sometimes rely on raw athleticism, but in the NFL, a false step is the difference between a pass breakup and a touchdown,' said Ume-Ezeoke in an exclusive interview with RG. 'We layered speed and decision-making into his drills—motion shifts, sudden breaks, NFL route concepts. Every step had to be intentional.' Watts not only met the challenge, but he thrived in it. According to Ume-Ezeoke, Xavier Watts' mental toughness is what separates him from his physicality or instincts. 'I'd put him in uncomfortable situations—fatigued reps, surprise challenges. Verbal pressure—just to simulate the mental chaos of the league. He embraced it. His ability to stay composed and driven through it all is why I believe he'll have longevity in the NFL.' Watts was projected as a second-round talent by many analysts, but ended up on Day 2. With humility and hunger, he embraced the process instead of letting it derail him. 'He wasn't chasing the hype,' Ume-Ezeoke added. 'He was chasing growth.' Watts, a smart, adaptable, and ball-hawking defender. Joins Atlanta's defense as they seek to replace veteran safeties and address the need for playmakers. The Falcons can be flexible and reliable in the secondary thanks to his ability to play in multiple coverages, diagnose offenses pre-snap, and deliver in big moments. The culture Atlanta is attempting to cultivate is perfectly matched by Watts' reputation for film study, sideline leadership, and team-first mentality. His effect may not always be apparent on the stat sheet right away, but his presence will be felt. The NFL Draft is often filled with headlines that focus on quarterbacks and top-10 picks. But it's players like Xavier Watts, who was drafted in the third round, who often define a franchise's long-term success. In Watts, the Falcons didn't just get a safety. They have someone who sets the tone. One with top-tier production. One with a pro's mindset. A person who is ready to meet the moment and then another one. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
