EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — On Monday, the Los Angeles Chargers took a significant step to bolster their cornerback depth by signing Eli Apple to their practice squad amid a series of injuries to their defensive lineup.

Apple, who was chosen as the 10th overall pick by the New York Giants in the 2016 NFL Draft, is now joining his sixth team in the league. He spent the previous season with the Miami Dolphins and had a stint with the Cincinnati Bengals for two years prior. Additionally, Apple has played for the New Orleans Saints and the Carolina Panthers throughout his career.

In his eight seasons in the NFL, Apple has participated in 98 games, starting 82 of them. He has recorded six interceptions, defended 60 passes, and accumulated a total of 381 tackles.

The Chargers (3-2) faced setbacks last Saturday when they placed their starting cornerback, Asante Samuel Jr., on injured reserve due to a shoulder injury sustained during practice. In another blow to their lineup, fellow starter Kristian Fulton strained a hamstring during the third quarter of their recent 23-16 win over the Denver Broncos.

Compounding their troubles, backup cornerback Ja’Sir Taylor has been inactive for two consecutive games due to a leg injury. Additionally, Deane Leonard, primarily a special teams player, also faced a hamstring injury during the game against Denver.

Amid these challenges, rookie cornerbacks Cam Hart and Tarheeb Still, both selected in the fifth round of this year’s NFL Draft, stepped up impressively during their first major game appearances. Hart participated in all 55 defensive plays, while Still contributed to 50 snaps, showcasing their potential and readiness to support the team.