Former Los Angeles Dodgers draft pick DJ Uiagalelei made his professional sports debut in Los Angeles on Sunday, though it didn’t come in MLB.
The Dodgers’ 20th-round selection in the 2023 draft appeared for the first time in the NFL on Sunday for the Los Angeles Chargers, filling in for starter Justin Herbert late in a blowout loss to the Houston Texans.
Uiagalelei hadn’t played baseball since high school at the time of his selection, and didn’t sign with the team despite the chance they took on him. He had a fastball which reached 95 miles per hour in high school, and was naturally physically gifted as a collegiate athlete.
He went on to play one of his best years of collegiate football with Oregon State in 2023 before transferring to Florida State in 2024, but he eventually went undrafted before signing with the Chargers.
The team eventually waived him as a part of their final roster cuts, but brought him back to the practice squad immediately. He suffered a similar fate in 2026, as the Chargers waived him before immediately bringing him back, but he found himself on the active roster after backup Trey Lance landed on injured reserve.
How Did Uiagalelei Perform in His Debut?
Despite spending half of the fourth quarter on the field for the Chargers, Uiagalelei didn’t stand out too much.
He ended the game with two completions on seven attempts, totaling 24 yards while recording his first NFL touchdown—a 15-yard pass to Derius Davis.
The Chargers fell to 0-8 with their loss, and remain rooted to the bottom of the NFL as they continue to struggle this season. Uiagalelei may be in line for some increased run at the quarterback position, as Herbert suffered a middle finger injury on his non-dominant hand, but could see a slightly larger role anyways with his passable performance on Sunday.
Uiagalelei and the Chargers’ next opportunity to take home a win comes against the Baltimore Ravens on Monday,. Nov. 15, at 5:15 p.m. PT, followed by a game against the New York Jets at home the following Sunday.
