The Los Angeles Chargers have been connected to a former NFL player who could get another shot in the league.
Many feel that second chances are deserved in this life, even those that contain extreme circumstances. That would describe the situation former Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III found himself in. Ruggs is currently serving a prison sentence of 3-10 years for his role in a deadly crash that killed a 23-year-old woman and her dog in November 2021.
However, Ruggs could be released as soon as August 2026.
His former teammate in Vegas, Josh Jacobs, has confirmed that he still talks to Ruggs and that the former wide receiver is training while in prison for a return to the league. Ruggs, the No. 12 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, played in just 20 games before the horrific incident. He made 50 catches for 921 yards and four touchdowns.
Josh Jacobs was supposed to go out with Henry Riggs on the night he was arrested. @iAM_JoshJacobs feels Tina Tintor’s death should’ve been avoided, & Henry Ruggs could be free. In his anger Jacobs expressed as much to Rugged’ family!
— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) April 30, 2025
Jacobs & Ruggs are still close. The two talk… pic.twitter.com/XufCJWWzNy
Ruggs is still only 26 years old and could get another chance to play in the league should he be released. Though there will be plenty of legal ramifications to get through, not to mention the league could place its own suspension on him following his release, there would probably still be at least one team willing to see what he could bring.
Anthony Palacios of Last Word on Sports took at look at some teams who could be in that camp, and he selected the Chargers as one of them.
"The Los Angeles Chargers finally got another wide receiver after acquiring Tre Harris. However, he will be developing since he’s just a rookie, while he resembles Joshua Palmer and Quentin Johnston combined. Speaking of Johnston, he’s on the hot seat, and Ruggs could take his spot if the Chargers want to give him one more chance to prove worthy alongside the 2024 draft pick Ladd McConkey", wrote Palacios.
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Following the second-round selection of Tre Harris, the Chargers' need for a wide receiver went down quite a bit. But Ruggs was one of the fastest wide receivers in the league during his short career and may still possess the speed to take the top off of a defense.
The move would be seen as a controversial one, just as it was when Michael Vick was given another shot in the league, but if he is released and deemed eligible to play, it's all but certain that a team would give him a shot. Could the Chargers be that team?
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