The Chargers already were swimming in shallow waters with their safety depth.

On Tuesday, an injury drained them a bit further.

Former practice-squad safety Matt Daniels was placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. He was considered anything but a lock to make the 53-man roster, holding an outside chance at best, but he nonetheless is one fewer body at arguably the thinnest position on defense. Former Michigan inside linebacker James Ross, a standout from rookie minicamp this month, was signed in a corresponding move.

Daniels appeared in one game last season.


He recovered a fumble against the Broncos in the Chargers’ Jan. 3 finale.

Jahleel Addae, Dwight Lowery, Darrell Stuckey, Adrian Phillips, Dexter McCoil and undrafted rookie Adrian McDonald are the roster’s lone safeties — technically, McCoil is listed at inside linebacker, but he’s seen work in the secondary this spring. The Chargers are expected to monitor the waiver wire over the coming months, open to bolstering the group. Whenever a player of three or fewer accrued seasons is released between now and until Week 4 of the regular season, the team will hold the No. 3 waiver priority behind the Titans and Browns.

Ross appeared in 50 games at Michigan with 21 starts. He totaled 49 tackles and a sack as a senior.

He becomes the second try-out player from rookie minicamp to sign with the team. Former Arizona State guard Vi Teofilo was first.