Over the years, the Chargers have had their share of triumph in finding undrafted free agents who have come in and contributed to the team’s success. As Jyles Tucker enters his second professional season, he appears to be the next in a long line that includes Kassim Osgood, Antonio Gates, Kris Dielman, Jacques Cesaire and Stephen Cooper.



A standout defensive end at WakeForest, Tucker was not selected in last April’s draft, but instead signed a free agent contract with the Chargers. He transitioned to outside linebacker in the Bolts’ 3-4 scheme and was impressive enough in the preseason to earn a spot on the Chargers’ practice squad. When a shoulder injury ended linebacker Carlos Polk’s season in November, Tucker was elevated to the 53-man roster and he made the most of his opportunity.



In five regular-season contests, Tucker recorded six special teams tackles and provided a spark off the bench on defense. He recorded a half sack in his first professional game at Kansas City Dec. 2 and four weeks later he was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week after a career performance in the Bolts’ regular-season finale against their arch-rivals, the Oakland Raiders. Tucker sacked Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell three times and during his second sack, he forced a fumble and recovered the loose ball in the end zone for his first-ever NFL touchdown.



Tucker is a New Jersey native and wisely took every opportunity to learn from another Garden State native, linebacker Shaun Phillips. Tucker could regularly be seen during and after practice chatting with Phillips and fellow OLB Shawne Merriman, who willingly helped their young pupil along the way.