San Diego Chargers sign former Colts inside linebacker Kavell Conner

Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports

San Diego,CA- According to the UT San Diego’s Michael Gehlken, former Indianapolis Colts inside linebacker Kavell Conner has signed with the San Diego Chargers on a three-year deal. The terms of the deal have yet to be released.

The San Diego Chargers this week decided to not re-sign inside linebackers Bront Bird and Reggie Walker and before today’s signing only had two backup inside linebackers on the roster in Andrew Gachkar and Jonas Mouton behind starters Donald Butler and Manti Te’o. The addition of Conner gives the Chargers an experienced linebacker, who improves the Chargers quality of depth at inside linebacker. I expect Conner to play a significant role on the Chargers next season on special teams and at inside linebacker, as Butler and Te’o have never played a full season in the NFL without injury and with the addition of Conner the Chargers have a proven inside linebacker to start in their place, should either go down with an injury through the season.

Conner had started 36 games in his three seasons in the NFL.

GM Tom Telesco was the Colts’ Director of Player Personnel in 2010 when Conner was drafted by the Colts out of Clemson in the seventh round of the 2010 NFL draft.

Conner 217 tackles career tackles and had his best season in 2011, when he made 108 tackles in 15 starts for the Colts.

The Chargers have now signed six players this off-season in the addition of running back Donald Brown, tight end David Johnson, inside linebacker Kavell Conner and the extensions to inside linebacker Donald Butler, safety Darrell Stuckey and offensive lineman Chad Rinehart.