Jessie Nathaniel Lemonier (January 31, 1997 – January 26, 2023) was an American football linebacker. He played for the Los Angeles Chargers and the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL), and the Birmingham Stallions of the United States Football League (USFL). He was signed by the Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2020 following his college football career with the Liberty Flames.

Jessie Lemonier
refer to caption
Lemonier with Liberty in 2018
No. 90, 58, 52, 53
Position:Linebacker
Personal information
Born:(1997-01-31)January 31, 1997
Hialeah, Florida, U.S.
Died:January 26, 2023(2023-01-26) (aged 25)
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:240 lb (109 kg)
Career information
High school:Hialeah (FL)
College:
Undrafted:2020
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles:17
Sacks:1.5
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Professional career

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Los Angeles Chargers

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Lemonier signed with the Los Angeles Chargers as an undrafted free agent following the 2020 NFL draft on April 26, 2020.[1] He was waived during final roster cuts on September 5, 2020,[2] and signed to the team's practice squad the next day.[3] He was promoted to the active roster on September 26, 2020,[4] waived on October 24, 2020,[5] and re-signed to the practice squad four days later.[6] He was promoted back to the active roster on November 7,[7] waived on November 28, 2020,[8] and re-signed to the practice squad four days later.[9] He was elevated to the active roster on December 17 for the team's week 15 game against the Las Vegas Raiders, and reverted back to the practice squad after the game.[10] He was signed to the active roster on December 26, 2020.[11]

On August 31, 2021, Lemonier was waived by the Chargers.[12]

Detroit Lions

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On September 2, 2021, Lemonier was signed to the Detroit Lions practice squad,[13] promoted to the active roster on October 6,[14] and waived on May 16, 2022.[15]

Arizona Cardinals

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On May 17, 2022, Lemonier was claimed off waivers by the Arizona Cardinals[16] and released on August 17.[17]

Birmingham Stallions

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Lemonier was selected by the Arlington Renegades in the 2023 XFL Draft,[18] but instead signed with the Houston Gamblers of the USFL on December 31, 2022.[19] His playing rights were immediately traded to the Birmingham Stallions.[20]

Death

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On January 26, 2023, Lemonier died at the age of 25. Lemonier and his girlfriend were expecting their first child at the time of his death. His cause of death is unknown at this time.[21]

References

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  1. ^ "Chargers Agree to Terms with Undrafted Free Agents". Chargers.com. April 26, 2020. Archived from the original on October 10, 2020. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  2. ^ "We've Trimmed Our Roster to 53". Chargers.com. September 5, 2020. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  3. ^ "Practice Squad Announced". Chargers.com. September 6, 2020. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  4. ^ "Los Angeles Chargers Announce Roster Moves". Chargers.com. September 26, 2020. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  5. ^ "Los Angeles Chargers Activate Melvin Ingram III and Justin Jones". Chargers.com. October 24, 2020.
  6. ^ @Chargers (October 28, 2020). "we've signed Jason Moore and Jesse Lemonier to our practice squad and released Lee Autry" (Tweet). Retrieved November 8, 2020 – via Twitter.
  7. ^ "Los Angeles Chargers Make Roster Moves". Chargers.com. November 7, 2020.
  8. ^ "Los Angeles Chargers Activate Austin Ekeler from Injured Reserve". Chargers.com. November 28, 2020. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  9. ^ Bouda, Nate (December 2, 2020). "NFL Transactions: Wednesday 12/2". NFLTradeRumors.co. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  10. ^ "Chargers Make Moves Before Thursday Night Football". Chargers.com. December 17, 2020. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  11. ^ "Los Angeles Chargers Sign Jessie Lemonier to Active Roster; Place Uchenna Nwosu on Injured Reserve". Chargers.com. December 26, 2020. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  12. ^ "Chargers Begin Cutting Roster Down to 53". Chargers.com. August 30, 2021.
  13. ^ "Lions announce roster moves". DetroitLions.com. September 2, 2021.
  14. ^ "Detroit Lions place Frank Ragnow on IR, sign Jessie Lemonier from practice squad". Pride of Detroit. SB Nation. October 6, 2021.
  15. ^ "Detroit Lions sign rookie minicamp tryout LB Natrez Patrick, waive Jessie Lemonier". Pride of Detroit. SB Nation. May 16, 2022.
  16. ^ Urban, Darren (May 17, 2022). "Cardinals Awarded Jessie Lemonier With Waiver Claim". AZCardinals.com.
  17. ^ Williams, Charean (August 17, 2022). "Cardinals cut Jessie Lemonier". Pro Football Talk. NBC Sports.
  18. ^ ESPN STAFF (November 18, 2022). "XFL draft results for 2023: Picks, full rosters for every team". ESPN.
  19. ^ @USFLGamblers (December 31, 2022). "Free Agent Signing" (Tweet). Retrieved January 1, 2023 – via Twitter.
  20. ^ @USFLStallions (December 31, 2022). "Transfer of playing rights" (Tweet). Retrieved January 1, 2023 – via Twitter.
  21. ^ Woodyard, Eric (January 26, 2023). "Ex-Detroit Lions linebacker Jessie Lemonier dies at age 25". ESPN. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
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