Tuli Tuipulotu sitting out of practice as he

Tuli Tuipulotu needs to receives a commission.

Although Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh anticipated everybody to be full-go for training camp, the fourth-year edge rusher is holding in amid contract negotiations.

Tuipulotu, who was a full participant in minicamp, did particular person work off to the aspect during Wednesday’s practice and was in normal workout apparel fairly than in a helmet, jersey and soccer pants like his teammates. On Thursday, Tuipulotu suited up usually and participated in drills alongside fellow defensive linemen but didn’t take part in group periods.

A maintain in is a technique gamers can exercise leverage during contract negotiations. Hold-in gamers fulfill basic necessities outlined in the collective bargaining settlement — such as attending conferences and doing particular person work — to keep away from necessary fines from groups for not reporting to training camp.

“We keep it rolling in practice,” Chargers defensive coordinator Chris O’Leary said. “You know, you get into a game, and you spend a little bit more time game planning and figuring out how to fill that void. … So we haven’t felt it as much. Obviously, we miss [Tuipulotu] out there. We miss how vocal he is and plays that he makes. But for us, we’re just keeping it rolling with the guys we got out there.”

The No. 54 general decide in the 2023 NFL draft, Tuipulotu has steadily climbed into a key position in the Chargers’ protection and is coming off a profession yr.

He collected 13 sacks in 2025 as a pivotal half of former defensive coordinator Jesse Minter’s system, which helped the Chargers end the season fifth in yards allowed per sport (285.2) and ninth in factors per sport (20.0).

“I just let my agent — let the guys — handle that,” Tuipulotu said during minicamp in June. “I’m just trying to be here with the team, you know what I’m saying? Be close with the guys.”

Tuipulotu, a Hawthorne native, has earned 26 sacks and 144 tackles over 36 begins with the Chargers. He made 16 begins last season.

“It’s just the process of it, man,” said Chargers security Derwin James, who has earned a pair of hefty paydays after a training camp maintain in of his own 4 years in the past. “We love Tuli. Like, I knew the team loved me too when I had [a] similar situation.

“Sometimes, that stuff takes longer to iron out. But man, everyone knows we love Tuli here. … And he loves the team. So it’ll get worked out. … I can’t wait to have him out there. It’s just part of the business, man.”

James, a five-time Pro Bowl choice set to earn more than $24 million this season, is somebody Tuipulotu can lean on during his maintain in. Another is fellow edge rusher and future Hall of Famer Khalil Mack, who has mentored Tuipulotu.

The two said they mentioned Tuipulotu’s state of affairs privately. Like James, Mack is seasoned in contract negotiations, having famously signed a file six-year, $141-million extension with the Bears in 2018 after a holdout with the Raiders had him shipped to Chicago.

“I would be doing [Tuipulotu] an injustice not to talk to him about business or just life in general, of how to handle your business off the field and on the field,” Mack said, referencing Raiders teammates such as Charles Woodson and Justin Tuck who helped him navigate his early NFL years. “He kind of bounces questions off of me, and I say what I did or what I saw other people do — just give the best example or the best advice I can. But every situation is different.”

“I just hope you know everything works out in his favor,” Mack added. “And whatever works in his favor works in the organization’s favor as well.”

Tuipulotu said he didn’t have a timeline for his contract negotiations, but reiterated he’d show up.

But as a key cog in the Chargers’ protection who loves practice and training camp, the Chargers gained’t really feel fairly full on the sphere until Tuipulotu is working towards with his teammates again.

“There’s always something to get better at,” Tuipulotu said. “There’s always something you miss. Man, I love practice, you know what I’m saying? I bring the juice during practice.”