Molden (shin) signed a three-year, $18.75 million contract extension with the Chargers on Thursday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
The Chargers acquired Molden just before the start of the regular season, and he was on the field for a career-high 721 defensive snaps and 121 special-teams snaps during the regular season. He racked up 75 total tackles and three interceptions across 15 games and is now likely to be locked into a significant role in the Chargers defense for the next several seasons. Of the $18.75 million, $13.5 is fully guaranteed.
Molden will not play again this season after suffering a broken fibula in the Chargers' win over the Patriots on Saturday, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.
Molden's 2024 campaign will come to an early end , one in which the Washington product recorded a career-high 75 combined tackles and seven passes defended, including three interceptions, in 15 games. The Chargers will now likely turn to Eddie Jackson, who recently joined the team after being released by the Ravens in November, to fill in for Molden.
Molden broke the fibula in his left leg during the Chargers' 40-7 win over the Patriots on Saturday, Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports reports.
Molden was carted off late in the third quarter of Saturday's game after suffering a non-contact injury to his left leg. Initial tests have revealed that he suffered a broken fibula, and if further tests confirm the diagnosis he will be sidelined for the rest of the 2024 campaign. Molden will likely end the regular season with 75 tackles (43 solo), seven pass defenses (including three interceptions) and two fumble recoveries across 15 games. Eddie Jackson will probably start at free safety in the Chargers' regular-season finale against the Raiders due to Molden's injury.
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Chargers' Elijah Molden: Gets green light
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Molden (knee) is available for Saturday's matchup with the Patriots.
Molden will return from a one-game absence due to a knee injury. Barring any setbacks with his knee, he figures to take on his usual responsibilities at free safety. Eddie Jackson would presumably be next in line if needed.
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Chargers' Elijah Molden: Questionable to play New England
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Molden (knee) was listed as a limited participant on Thursday's injury report and is questionable for Saturday's game against the Patriots.
Molden was unable to play in the Chargers' Week 16 win over the Broncos due to a knee injury. He was listed as a limited practice participant all week, and his official status for Saturday's game may not be known until the Chargers announce their list of inactive players approximately 90 minutes before the 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff. With Marcus Maye (ankle) played on injured reserve, Tony Jefferson would be slated to start at free safety alongside strong safety Derwin James if Molden is not cleared to play.
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Chargers' Elijah Molden: Ruled out for TNF
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Molden (knee) is inactive for Thursday night's game against the Broncos.
Molden wasn't expected to play Thursday due to a knee injury he likely suffered against the Buccaneers this past Sunday. The 2021 third-round pick will look to take advantage of the additional rest and be ready to go for the Chargers' Week 17 clash against the Patriots on Saturday, Dec. 28. Tony Jefferson and Marcus Maye are the top candidates to serve as the Chargers' starting free safety Thursday due to Molden's absence.
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Chargers' Elijah Molden: Doubtful for TNF
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Molden (knee) didn't participate in Wednesday's walkthrough and is listed as doubtful to play against the Broncos on Thursday.
Molden has been absent from practice all week due to a knee injury he likely picked up during this past Sunday's loss to the Buccaneers. Assuming Molden is ruled out for Thursday's AFC West clash, Marcus Maye and Tony Jefferson would be the top candidates to start at free safety alongside strong safety Derwin James.
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Chargers' Elijah Molden: Sits out practice
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Molden (knee) was listed as a non-participant on Monday's practice estimate.
Molden may have picked up a knee injury during Sunday's loss to the Buccaneers. It's worth noting the Chargers only held a walkthrough Monday, so the Washington product's participation level is only an estimate. A clearer picture of his status for Thursday's game against the Broncos will likely come closer to kickoff.
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Chargers' Elijah Molden: Records eight stops Sunday
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Molden racked up eight tackles (four solo) in Sunday's 27-17 Week 10 win against Tennessee.
Molden finished second on the Chargers in tackles behind linebacker Daiyan Henley. Molden's eight stops tied his season-high mark, which he first established in Week 4 against Kansas City. The defensive back has played at least 85 percent of the Chargers' defensive snaps each of the past three weeks and has tallied 19 tackles and an interception over that span.
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Chargers' Elijah Molden: Traded to Chargers
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The Chargers acquired Molden from the Titans on Wednesday in exchange for a 2026 seventh-round pick.
Molden registered a career-high 73 tackles (47 solo), four passes defended and a pick-six across 15 regular-season games for the Titans in 2023. Despite the uptick in production, Molden was set to see less snaps in Tennessee's secondary with Amani Hooker, Quandre Diggs and Jamal Adams all getting work at safety, while Roger McCreary slots in at nickel corner. Molden will get a fresh start with the Chargers, and he should be utilized across multiple spots in the Bolts' secondary.
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Titans' Elijah Molden: Rebounds for strong season
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Molden recorded 73 total tackles with four passes defended, including an interception, and a forced fumble across 15 regular-season games with the Titans in 2023.
Molden had his 2022 season derailed by a groin injury, but he rebounded with the highest tackle total of his three-year career in 2023. He also tallied the second pick-six of his career in Week 15. As the Titans' roster is currently constructed, Molden should be projected to start at strong safety for the Titans in 2024, the final year of his rookie contract.
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Titans' Elijah Molden: Another solid outing
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Molden logged seven total tackles (six solo) in Sunday's 26-3 loss to the Texans.
The 24-year-old safety has now played 100 percent of the Titans' defensive snaps over each of the last two weeks, and he's been fairly productive (13 total tackles). Molden has likely seen increased work on Tennessee's defense due to the team's elimination from playoff contention after its Week 15 loss to the Texans. On the year, Molden has appeared in 14 games, tallying 67 total tackles, three pass deflections and one pick-six. He'll go up against a Jaguars offense that could very well be without Trevor Lawrence (shoulder) in Week 18.
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Titans' Elijah Molden: Full participant in practice
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Molden (hamstring) was a full participant in Tennessee's practice Wednesday, Jim Wyatt of the team's official site reports.
Molden did not travel to London for the team's Week 6 loss to the Ravens but is seemingly healthy again. The 24-year-old has played on both defense and special teams through four games this season compiling 20 tackles (13 solo) and a pass deflection, and he will look to add to those numbers versus Atlanta on Sunday.
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Titans' Elijah Molden: Out Sunday
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Molden (hamstring) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's game against Baltimore, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.
Molden is one of three players that will not travel with the Titans to London, as he continues to recover from a lingering hamstring issue. After sitting out Week 4 with the same injury, the 24-year-old recorded three tackles while playing on only 15 percent of Tennessee's defensive snaps during the team's Week 5 loss to Indianapolis. Matthew Jackson is likely to see an increased role this coming Sunday with Molden missing time.
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Titans' Elijah Molden: Ruled out against Cincinnati
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Molden (hamstring) will not play in Tennessee's game against the Bengals on Sunday, Jim Wyatt of the team's official site reports.
Molden will be forced to miss his first game of the season due to a hamstring injury. The 2021 third-round pick has recorded 17 tackles (12 solo) through three games and Matthew Jackson should see increased playing time in his absence.
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Titans' Elijah Molden: Not on injury report
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Molden (groin) logged a full practice for the Titans' on Wednesday, Turron Davenport of ESPN.com reports.
Molden has been nursing a groin injury for most of November. His full participation at practice indicates he is on track to suit up for the team's Week 12 matchup with the Bengals.
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Titans' Elijah Molden: Sidelined for TNF
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Molden (groin) has been ruled inactive for Thursday's game against the Packers, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.
Molden was forced out of Sunday's win over the Broncos after aggravating a lingering groin injury, leaving him sidelined coming into Thursday Night Football. The 23-year-old recorded three tackles during his lone appearance of the season Week 10, and his absence will leave Tre Avery, Greg Mabin and Terrance Mitchell to fill out the Titans' secondary against Green Bay. Molden's next chance to play will come against the Bengals on Sunday, Nov. 27.
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Titans' Elijah Molden: Considered questionable for TNF
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Molden (groin) is questionable for Thursday's matchup against Green Bay, John Glennon of SI.com reports.
Molden missed the first eight games of the campaign due to a groin injury and made his season debut in Week 10, but he was forced out of the contest after presumably aggravating the groin issue. The second-year cornerback is considered questionable, but even if he's available, he'll likely operate behind Roger McCreary and Kristian Fulton.
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Titans' Elijah Molden: Leaves IR ahead of Week 10
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Tennessee activated Molden (groin) from its injured reserve list Saturday ahead of Sunday's game versus Denver, Turron Davenport of ESPN.com reports.
After being placed on injured reserve ahead of Week 1, Molden is set to make his 2022 debut in Week 10. With Kristian Fulton (hamstring) questionable for Sunday, Molden could be in for a significant role as soon as he's back.
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Titans' Elijah Molden: Designated to return from IR
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Tennessee designated Molden (groin) to return from injured reserve Wednesday.
Molden opened the campaign on IR due to a groin injury but took the next step toward making his season debut Wednesday. With the move, the Titans open a 21-day window for Molden to be added to the active roster. However, if he's not, he'll revert to IR for the remainder of the year.
