Los Angeles Chargers Bring In Suspended NFL Star Dealing With Ugly Divorce & DUI Charge Ahead Of Playoff Run

This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.

The Los Angeles Chargers took a low-risk step to add depth to their offensive line just before the playoffs. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the team signed former Baltimore Ravens guard Ben Cleveland to the practice squad.

The signing gives the Chargers extra help up front as they get ready for the postseason. Cleveland adds size and experience, including time in playoff games, even though his recent history includes off-field issues.

Cleveland is 27 and spent his entire NFL career with the Ravens after they drafted him in the third round in 2021. Baltimore released him this week after he was suspended for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. The NFL did not release details about the suspension.

Despite those concerns, the Chargers see value in adding a veteran lineman at this point in the season. Los Angeles will face the New England Patriots on Sunday night in the Wild Card round and is trying to reach the divisional round for the first time since 2018.

Chargers Take Calculated Risk On Cleveland

Rapoport reported Monday that Cleveland joined the Chargers’ practice squad to add depth for the playoffs. If he plays, it would be his first game action since November 16, when the Ravens beat the Cleveland Browns.

Cleveland’s season off the field was difficult even before his suspension. He filed for divorce from his wife, Kaitlyn Terrell Cleveland, on February 28 in Baldwin County, Georgia. TMZ reported that Cleveland cited adultery in the filing. Terrell Cleveland quickly pushed back.

The #Chargers have signed G Ben Cleveland to the practice squad, a familiar face for GM Joe Hortiz and OC Greg Roman.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 5, 2026

She called the claims “knowingly false,” according to TMZ. She said the filing came “in bad faith” and denied the accusations “vehemently.” She also said she hoped both sides could resolve all “matters and controversies” tied to the split.

The divorce filing followed a DUI arrest earlier in February. Police stopped Cleveland on February 12 in Milledgeville, Georgia. Officers cited him for DUI and failure to maintain lane. Reports say Cleveland told officers he drank “approximately 3-4 beers” at a country club before driving.

The Ravens suspended Cleveland on December 8. He stayed on the roster until January 1, when the team waived him.

On the field, Cleveland is known as a big, physical interior lineman. He stands 6-foot-6 and weighs 360 pounds. He was more of a depth player than a star in Baltimore, but that kind of experience can be valuable in the playoffs.

Now, the Chargers are willing to take the chance. With the postseason here, Los Angeles wants as many options as possible.