Los Angeles Chargers add another Alabama alumnus to defensive line

After the healthiest stretch of his NFL career, defensive lineman Da’Shawn Hand has changed teams in free agency. The Los Angeles Chargers announced on Thursday that they had reached an agreement on a contract with the former Alabama standout.

Terms were not announced.

A fourth-round draft choice, Hand made the Pro Football Writers of America’s All-Rookie team for the 2018 NFL season, when he played in 13 of the Detroit Lions’ 16 games.

But in the next four seasons, Hand played in 18 of the 66 regular-season games as injuries dogged his career.

In 2023, Hand signed with the Miami Dolphins during training camp and started the season on the practice squad. But he played in the final 16 games of the regular season and a playoff contest.

Hand followed that by playing in every game in the 2024 season after signing with the Dolphins again as a free agent. Hand got on the field for 563 defensive snaps and 108 special-teams plays, both career-high marks.

Hand recorded career highs with 31 tackles, five tackles for loss and four quarterback hits. He also had the fifth sack of his career.

The Chargers’ most active defensive interior lineman in 2024 left in free agency this week as Poona Ford signed with the Los Angeles Rams.

Hand is the fourth Alabama alumnus to get a contract from the Chargers this week, with center Bradley Bozeman and punter JK Scott re-signing with Los Angeles and running back Najee Harris coming aboard in free agency. Justin Eboigbe joined the Chargers’ defensive line last season as a fourth-round draft choice from Alabama.

While at Alabama, Hand played for the Crimson Tide’s CFP national-championship teams for the 2015 and 2017 seasons.