The Los Angeles Chargers have completed 14 training camp practices, and they opened their preseason Saturday with a 16-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks at home. With two weeks of camp remaining, the confines of the 53-man roster are starting to take shape.
Final cuts will be announced Aug. 27. The Chargers open the regular season Sept. 8 against the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders.
Advertisem*nt
As the dog days of camp turn into the home stretch, let’s reset with our first 53-man roster projection of the summer.
Who is in? Who is out? And where are the pressure points on the roster?
Quarterbacks (2)
Justin Herbert, Easton Stick
Who’s out: Max Duggan, Casey Bauman, Luis Perez
Herbert has not practiced since July 31 as he deals with an injury to the plantar fascia in his right foot. He has been in a walking boot since Aug. 1. Herbert was on the sideline for Saturday’s preseason opener and still had the walking boot on. According to the timeline the Chargers detailed in a statement announcing the injury, Herbert is expected to be in the walking boot for approximately two weeks. Aug. 15 would mark two weeks since the walking boot came on. The most important part: Coach Jim Harbaugh said last week that Herbert’s progress has been “very positive.” The team expects Herbert to be on the field against the Raiders in Week 1.
Will this injury linger? That’s the bigger question. If it does, the Chargers will have a massive problem. Stick’s struggles in training camp practices continued into the preseason opener Saturday. His regression this year has been puzzling, considering he showed signs of development in his four starts at the end of last season. Stick’s decision-making and accuracy are quite noticeably worse. At this stage, the Chargers do not have a better option on the roster for backup quarterback. Duggan has not played better than Stick. Bauman could not even get into the preseason game. Perez has been with the team for less than a week. Perhaps Perez makes strides over these final two weeks and pushes Stick for the job. I am not there yet.
When asked Saturday if the team will continue looking outside the building for quarterbacks, as they did with Perez, Harbaugh replied: “Anything’s possible.”
GO DEEPEREaston Stick and the Chargers offense sputter in Jim Harbaugh's preseason debutRunning backs (4)
Gus Edwards, J.K. Dobbins, Jaret Patterson, Isaiah Spiller
Who’s out: Kimani Vidal, Elijah Dotson
Patterson has impressed the coaching staff, and he appears to have grasped the RB3 role right now. Of the four backs competing behind Edwards and Dobbins, Patterson has gotten the most reps with the first team in practice. He was also the first running back in the game Saturday, ahead of both Spiller and Dotson. Dobbins and Edwards, the veterans, did not suit up. Vidal was in uniform for warmups but did not dress for the game.
Advertisem*nt
Of course, it is a bit jarring to see a sixth-round pick left off the roster. But, as always, I am just basing this projection on what I am seeing. Spiller is on the first-team punt unit. He has familiarity with special teams coordinator Ryan Ficken. That flexibility ends up being hugely important for these bottom-of-the-roster decisions. Vidal has also been dealing with an injury and missed four full days of practice earlier this month, including the joint practice with the Los Angeles Rams. That injury likely influenced Vidal sitting out the preseason game.
This competition is still wide open. Right now, I think Patterson and Spiller have the edge over Vidal. That could change through the final two weeks of camp and, most importantly, the last two preseason games.
Receivers (6)
Joshua Palmer, Ladd McConkey, DJ Chark, Quentin Johnston, Derius Davis, Brenden Rice
Who’s out: Simi Fehoko, Cornelius Johnson, Jaylen Johnson, Jaelen Gill, Leon Johnson, Praise Olatoke
Heading into camp, I thought the Chargers would only keep five receivers. But impressive performances from a number of young receivers have forced me to open up an additional spot in this group. Right now, I am keeping Rice as the sixth receiver. He has shown me he can be a productive receiver at this level. His size, athleticism, route-running, hands and instincts are all NFL-caliber. However, like in the running back room, this remains wide open. Fehoko continues to make plays, including 29-yard reception against the Seahawks. Fehoko also played on all core-four special teams units in the preseason opener — kickoff, kick return, punt and punt return. That flexibility is notable. Rookie Jaylen Johnson has also had a great camp, pushing himself onto the roster bubble.
air max
📺 | CBS LA + Estrella pic.twitter.com/oCb8TeQBEV
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) August 11, 2024
Tight ends (3)
Will Dissly, Hayden Hurst, Stone Smartt
Who’s out: Donald Parham Jr., Zach Heins, Luke Benson, Ben Mason
This group has presented an almost opposite situation to the receivers. I figured the Chargers would be keeping four tight ends heading into camp. The position is just so important for a run-heavy Greg Roman offense. And yet I do not see four tight ends on this roster worthy of making the 53-man. Mason and Parham have both missed significant practice time with injuries. When Parham has been on the field, he has been working with the second and third teams. And his blocking remains a weakness. Heins and Benson have both flashed, but I do not see them as better players than any of the receivers competing for the sixth spot in that room. I think the Chargers will have enough with these three tight ends. Smartt has improved as a blocker, and that is why I think he will earn a spot on the 53-man.
Advertisem*nt
Offensive line (9)
Rashawn Slater, Zion Johnson, Bradley Bozeman, Trey Pipkins III, Joe Alt, Brenden Jaimes, Jamaree Salyer, Jordan McFadden, Foster Sarell
Who’s out: Alex Leatherwood, Brent Laing, Tyler McLellan, Willis Patrick, Bucky Williams, Karsen Barnhart
While Salyer has been sidelined with a lower-half injury, Jaimes has moved into the sixth OL position on the depth chart. The starting group when everyone is healthy: LT Slater, LG Johnson, C Bozeman, RG Pipkins, RT Alt. When Pipkins was dealing with an injury, the Chargers played Jaimes at both center and right guard. When Jaimes was at center, Bozeman was at right guard. When Jaimes was at right guard, Bozeman was at center. The Chargers also experimented with McFadden and Sarell at right guard while Pipkins was still limited in team drills while coming back from his injury.
McFadden is a versatile piece who has played both jumbo tight end and fullback in camp. The fullback flexibility between McFadden and Dissly means the Chargers do not necessarily have to keep a full-time fullback on the roster. Salyer, when healthy, is the Chargers sixth-best offensive lineman, with tackle and guard flexibility. The battle in this group is between Sarell and Leatherwood. Sarell has played better in practice, and he was better against the Seahawks. Leatherwood allowed six pressures on 20 pass-blocking snaps Saturday, all at left tackle, according to TruMedia. The Chargers have played Leatherwood sparingly at guard in camp. I have Sarell with an edge in this battle, especially if he can develop guard flexibility. Sarell did not allow a pressure in 10 pass-blocking snaps at guard against the Seahawks, according to TruMedia.
Free, daily NFL updates direct to your inbox.
Free, daily NFL updates direct to your inbox.
Defensive line (6)
Poona Ford, Morgan Fox, Otito Ogbonnia, Scott Matlock, Justin Eboigbe, Christopher Hinton
Who’s out: Jerrod Clark, Micheal Mason, CJ Okoye (IPP)
I think Ford, Fox, Ogbonnia, Matlock and Eboigbe are locks to make the roster. The question is whether Hinton will make the roster as a sixth interior defensive lineman. Hinton has played well in camp, especially in run defense, which is why I am including him in this projection. He also played for Harbaugh at Michigan.
The Chargers could decide to use this spot on offense, perhaps in the tight end room. General manager Joe Hortiz comes from the Baltimore Ravens, where he spent 26 years in the personnel department. Worth noting that the Ravens only kept four interior defensive linemen on their 53-man roster last season.
The Chargers look solid with their first five edge rushers, but Tre’Mon Morris-Brash is making a push. (Jonathan Hui / USA Today)
Edge rushers (5)
Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack, Tuli Tuipulotu, Bud Dupree, Chris Rumph II
Who’s out: Tre’Mon Morris-Brash, Ty Shelby, Andrew Farmer II, Chris Collins
I think Rumph has played himself onto the roster at this stage. If Rumph does not make the roster, the Chargers would only have one edge rusher — Tuipulotu — playing on special teams. Rumph is a core-four special-teamer with experience under Ficken. Having an extra body in this room makes sense given Bosa’s injury history. Also, Mack is 33, and Dupree is 31. The name to watch in this group is Morris-Brash. I see a player potentially worthy of the 53-man roster. He’s had dominant moments as a rusher and run defender off the edge. Will the Chargers keep six edge rushers? I’m not there just yet.
Advertisem*nt
Linebackers (5)
Daiyan Henley, Denzel Perryman, Nick Niemann, Troy Dye, Junior Colson
Who’s out: Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste, Shane Lee
This group feels set. Perryman and Henley are the starters. Niemann and Dye have both played really well in training camp in all facets of the position — coverage, run defense and pass rush. The linebackers have turned into one of the Chargers’ deepest positions. The performances up and down the depth chart have been that consistent. And I write that even though Colson, a third-round pick in April, has yet to practice in training camp after undergoing an appendectomy. Lee had some notable moments against the Seahawks, namely his goal-line stand on fourth down. He is firmly in contention for the practice squad.
Safety (4)
Derwin James Jr., Alohi Gilman, AJ Finley, JT Woods
Who’s out: Tony Jefferson, Akeem Dent, Thomas Harper, Jalyn Phillips
I am leaving Jefferson off the 53-man roster for now because he has been working almost exclusively with the third team in practice. I think the Chargers can waive him and then stash the veteran on the practice squad. Finley is close to winning the third safety job. Woods looked like a more confident, physical player in the preseason opener.
jt woods is strapped in
📺 | CBS LA + Estrella pic.twitter.com/xpbhWuDBEl
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) August 11, 2024
Cornerback (6)
Asante Samuel Jr., Kristian Fulton, Ja’Sir Taylor, Deane Leonard, Tarheeb Still, Cam Hart
Who’s out: Matt Hankins, Chris Wilcox, Zamari Walton, Robert Kennedy
Hankins is the seventh corner pushing to get onto the roster bubble. Hart is dealing with an injury. He did not play against the Seahawks. If Hart’s injury lingers, perhaps the Chargers could consider keeping a seventh corner. Samuel and Fulton are the starters outside. Taylor is the starter in the slot. The top six are pretty firmly entrenched at this stage.
Specialists (3)
P JK Scott, LS Josh Harris, PK Cameron Dicker
No competition in the specialist group, and rightfully so. Dicker and Scott have both looked great in camp. Dicker hit a 58-yard field goal against the Seahawks. That would have qualified as a career long for him if he had made it during the regular season.
(Photo of Simi Fehoko: Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)
Daniel Popper is a staff writer for The Athletic covering the Los Angeles Chargers. He previously covered the Jacksonville Jaguars for The Athletic after following the New York Jets for the New York Daily News, where he spent three years writing, reporting and podcasting about local pro sports. Follow Daniel on Twitter @danielrpopper
