A former Clemson quarterback is being waived ahead of this evening’s deadline for NFL roster cuts.

DJ Uiagalelei is being waived by the Los Angeles Chargers after losing the competition for the team’s backup quarterback job, according to multiple reports. Sixth-year pro Trey Lance will be the Chargers’ QB2 behind starter Justin Herbert.

Today at 6 p.m. marks the NFL’s cutdown deadline, where teams have to reduce their rosters from 90 to 53 players.

NFL Insider Tom Pelissero reported that the Chargers want to bring Uiagalelei back on the practice squad if he clears waivers.

In the 2026 NFL preseason, Uiagalelei completed 18 of 33 passes (54.5 percent) for 221 yards and one touchdown. He averaged 6.7 yards per pass attempt, took four sacks and posted an 85.5 passer rating.

Uiagalelei spent three years at Clemson from 2020-22 before transferring to play at Oregon State in 2023. The former five-star prospect from California then transferred to Florida State for his final college campaign in 2024.

After going unselected in the 2025 NFL Draft, Uiagalelei signed an undrafted free agent deal with the Chargers in April 2025.

Uiagalelei was waived in late August of last year as part of final roster cuts, but re-signed with the Chargers’ practice squad the next day. Then, this past January, he signed a reserve/future contract with the team.

Uiagalelei did not appear in any games for the Chargers last season. He spent the entirety of his rookie campaign on the Chargers’ practice squad and was elevated to the active roster for the team’s Week 18 game against the Denver Broncos to back up Lance, but Uiagalelei didn’t get into the contest.

Uiagalelei completed 59.8 percent of his passes for 5,681 yards with 36 touchdowns and 17 interceptions over 36 games (28 starts) for the Tigers from 2020-22, while also rushing for 913 yards and 15 touchdowns on 275 career carries. He went 22-6 as a starter for the Tigers, but ultimately lost the starting QB job to Cade Klubnik during the 2022 ACC Championship Game before transferring to Oregon State.

For Oregon State in 2023, Uiagalelei completed 57.1 percent of his passes for 2,638 yards and 21 touchdowns with seven interceptions across 12 games. For FSU the following season, he completed 53.8 percent of his passes for 1,065 yards and four touchdowns with six interceptions in five games before missing the remainder of the season due to a broken finger on his throwing hand.

In his five-year college career, the 6-foot-4, 252-pounder posted a 58.5 completion percentage and 9,384 passing yards with 61 touchdown passes and 30 interceptions. He also rushed for 1,124 yards and 21 scores on 380 career carries.