Chargers trim roster to 75

The San Diego Chargers have reached the 75-man roster limit by placing cornerback Brandon Hughes on “Reserve-Injured,” wide receiver Demetrius Byrd on “Reserve-Non-Football Injury,” and waiving linebacker Anthony Felder.

Hughes, the team’s fifth-round pick in this year’s draft, suffered a knee injury in Saturday’s preseason game at Atlanta. Byrd, the team’s seventh-round draft pick who signed a four-year deal Monday, will spend the ’09 season on reserve while he recovers from injuries sustained in an automobile accident suffered prior to the NFL draft. Felder was among the undrafted free agents signed by the Chargers on May 1 following the 2009 NFL Draft.

NFL teams must reduce their active rosters to 53 players by Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. PT.

Chargers sign Brandon Hughes

The Chargers have made their first signing from the 2009 draft class, inking fifth-round selection Brandon Hughes to a four-year deal.

Hughes, a cornerback from Oregon State, played for former Chargers Head Coach Mike Riley and finished his collegiate career with 178 tackles, three interceptions and 27 passes defensed. He was the 148th selection in the 2009 NFL Draft

The 5-11, 181-pound Hughes is a native of Bloomington, Illinois.

The Chargers also announced the release of four rookie free agents on Friday: guard Sam Allen, cornerback Ramarcus Brown, wide receiver Jeremy Childs and linebacker Anthony Felder.