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The Los Angeles Chargers opened their preseason Saturday night with a 34-17 win over the Los Angeles Rams. They have completed 12 training camp practices. They have two more preseason games remaining — home against the New Orleans Saints and at the San Francisco 49ers. They will hold six more training camp practices, including two joint practices with New Orleans this week in Costa Mesa, Calif. They will then cut their roster to 53 players by 4 p.m. on Aug. 29.
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Between the preseason games and these first 12 practices, we have plenty of information to use to start projecting what the 53-man roster will look like.
This is my best guess at the initial roster as the Chargers enter their fourth week of training camp. I will have one final projection after the final preseason game on Aug. 25.
Quarterbacks (2)
Justin Herbert, Easton Stick
Who’s out: Max Duggan
The league introduced a new bylaw for this season that allows teams to designate an emergency third quarterback on game days as long as that QB is on the 53-man active roster. According to the bylaw, the emergency quarterback is only eligible to play if the other two quarterbacks are unable to participate due to injury or disqualification. Because of this new bylaw, I gave some consideration to keeping Duggan on the 53. But in that case, Duggan would be occupying a spot that otherwise could be devoted to more important depth at another position. The reality is if the Chargers are forced to play a third-string quarterback, they are unlikely to win the game anyway. The Chargers have kept three quarterbacks on the 53-man in each of coach Brandon Staley’s first two seasons: Herbert, Stick and backup Chase Daniel. The team did not want to lose Stick to a potential waiver claim if they cut him, and there was legitimate danger of that happening. I do not see the same danger with Duggan. He should clear waivers, and the Chargers could then re-sign him to their practice squad. Running backs (3)
Austin Ekeler, Joshua Kelley, Isaiah Spiller
Who’s out: Larry Rountree III, Elijah Dotson, Tyler Hoosman
I am going with three running backs for now. But Dotson just had a breakout performance in the preseason opener against the Rams, leading the Chargers with 92 rushing yards and two touchdowns on six carries. He is firmly on my roster bubble now. And he could certainly make the 53-man if he strings together more quality performances over the final six practices and, more importantly, the two remaining preseason games.
Fullback (1)
Zander Horvath
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Who’s out: No one
At this stage of camp, Horvath is on all of the first-team core-four special teams units: kick return, punt, punt return and kickoff. The Chargers love his versatility as a featured special teams player, particularly on kick and punt coverage. I consider him a lock for the roster for this reason. Receivers (6)
Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Joshua Palmer, Quentin Johnston, Derius Davis, Keelan Doss
Who’s out: John Hightower, Pokey Wilson, Terrell Bynum, Milton Wright, Darrius Shepherd, Jalen Guyton (PUP)
I have yet to see Guyton at training camp. Unlike defensive linemen Austin Johnson and Otito Ogbonnia, the other two Chargers on the physically unable to perform list, Guyton has not been working in the rehab area. The Chargers have the option of moving Guyton to the reserve/PUP list when they make their final cuts. In that case, he would have to miss the first four games of the regular season before he is eligible to be activated. That seems likelier now than it did at the beginning of camp. Guyton tore his ACL in Week 3 of last season. If Guyton starts the regular season on PUP, that leaves a spot open in the receiver room. I think the Chargers will keep six receivers. Davis is an electric returner, which he put on full display Saturday night with an 81-yard punt return touchdown. But he is limited as a receiver at this stage of his young career. Davis is a slot-only player, and his offensive role in 2023 will likely be as more of a gadget player. The Chargers could use a sixth receiver who can provide more offensively than Davis. Hightower was making a really strong case for that spot, but he has not practiced since Aug. 8 with an injury. I see this as a competition between Hightower and Doss. Doss has been a consistent performer in camp. He is a good route-runner with trustworthy hands. He also has the size the Chargers like at receiver.
Tight ends (4)
Gerald Everett, Donald Parham Jr., Tre’ McKitty, Stone Smartt
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Who’s out: Hunter Kampmoyer, Michael Ezeike
Smartt has been a mainstay on the first-team punt return unit. Tracking the starting special teams groups can be a reliable way to project these bottom-of-the-roster spots. Offensive line (9)
Rashawn Slater, Zion Johnson, Corey Linsley, Jamaree Salyer, Trey Pipkins III, Will Clapp, Jordan McFadden, Zack Bailey, Foster Sarell
Who’s out: Brenden Jaimes, Isaac Weaver, Austen Pleasants, Andrew Trainer, Johari Branch, Matt Kaskey
Johnson and Salyer both started Saturday at the two guard spots and played 16 snaps apiece. McFadden replaced Johnson at left guard after two series. Bailey replaced Salyer at right guard. Those two are ahead of Jaimes on the depth chart right now. Jaimes played exclusively center, replacing Clapp later in the first half. The starting five is set: Slater, Johnson, Linsley, Salyer, Pipkins. Clapp is the backup center. Sarell is the tackle depth. McFadden and Bailey are both primarily guards who can kick out to tackle in a pinch. Jaimes has the center flex going for him, but I do not see that as a necessary skill set with Clapp on the roster. I think Jaimes is the odd man out right now.
Defensive line (6)
Sebastian Joseph-Day, Morgan Fox, Scott Matlock, Christopher Hinton, Nick Williams, David Moa
Who’s out: Jerrod Clark, Terrance Lang, CJ Okoye, Austin Johnson (PUP), Otito Ogbonnia (PUP)
Johnson and Obgonnia have been working in the rehab area, but I am starting to question if either player will be ready for Week 1. Both are coming back from very significant knee injuries. As it stands, I am projecting both to start the season on PUP and miss the first four games. But that could definitely change through this final stretch of camp. Among the young defensive linemen who would be fighting for spots if Johnson and Ogbonnia start the season on PUP, Moa has really distanced himself, particularly as an interior pass rusher. Edge rushers (4)
Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack, Tuli Tuipulotu, Chris Rumph II
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Who’s out: Carlo Kemp, Ty Shelby, Brevin Allen, Andrew Farmer
No surprises here. Tuipulotu and Rumph both played 11 snaps on Saturday. In one three-play sequence in the first quarter, Tuipulotu had pressures on back-to-back snaps before Rumph got the defense off the field with a third-down sack. This depth is looking really solid entering the season. Tuipulotu has started to flash more regularly in practice over the last week or so.
Linebackers (5)
Eric Kendricks, Kenneth Murray Jr., Daiyan Henley, Nick Niemann, Amen Ogbongbemiga
Who’s out: Blake Lynch, Mikel Jones, Nathan East
Kendricks and Murray are penciled in as the starting duo. Henley is on three of the core-four special teams units: punt, punt return and kickoff. Niemann and Ogbongbemiga are on all four. They are two of the Chargers’ most important special teams pieces. Safety (5)
Derwin James Jr., Alohi Gilman, JT Woods, Raheem Layne, Mark Webb Jr.
Who’s out: AJ Finley, Tyler Baker-Williams, Michael Jacquet
Webb got the start Saturday night at safety over Layne. He had his first interception of training camp on Aug. 6. Webb is on first-team kick return and kickoff. Layne, meanwhile, is on first-team kick return, punt return and kickoff. I think both make the roster primarily as special teams players. Cornerback (5)
J.C. Jackson, Michael Davis, Asante Samuel Jr., Ja’Sir Taylor, Deane Leonard
Who’s out: Kemon Hall, Cam Brown, Tiawan Mullen, AJ Uzodinma
Jackson, who is working his way back from a ruptured patellar tendon, did not begin camp on PUP. He missed three practices last weekend after a minor setback but returned to team drills on Aug. 10. Barring another more significant setback, Jackson will be on the 53-man. The bigger question is whether he will be ready for Week 1. That is to be determined. The Chargers have the depth to handle that uncertainty. If Jackson is not ready, Samuel would likely start on the outside opposite Davis with Taylor in the slot. If Jackson is ready, Samuel has distanced himself in the competition with Taylor at slot corner and would likely start there with Jackson and Davis on the outside. Specialists (3)
P JK Scott, LS Josh Harris, K Cameron Dicker
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Who’s out: K Dustin Hopkins
Hopkins has not kicked field goals in a live practice period since Day 2 because of an undisclosed injury. Dicker is running away with this competition as a result. We will see if Hopkins can return to practice this week and make any sort of late-stage push.
The Los Angeles Chargers opened their preseason Saturday night with a 34-17 win over the Los Angeles Rams. They have completed 12 training camp practices. They have two more preseason games remaining — home against the New Orleans Saints and at the San Francisco 49ers. They will hold six more training camp practices, including two joint practices with New Orleans this week in Costa Mesa, Calif. They will then cut their roster to 53 players by 4 p.m. on Aug. 29.
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Between the preseason games and these first 12 practices, we have plenty of information to use to start projecting what the 53-man roster will look like.
This is my best guess at the initial roster as the Chargers enter their fourth week of training camp. I will have one final projection after the final preseason game on Aug. 25.
Quarterbacks (2)
Justin Herbert, Easton Stick
Who’s out: Max Duggan
The league introduced a new bylaw for this season that allows teams to designate an emergency third quarterback on game days as long as that QB is on the 53-man active roster. According to the bylaw, the emergency quarterback is only eligible to play if the other two quarterbacks are unable to participate due to injury or disqualification. Because of this new bylaw, I gave some consideration to keeping Duggan on the 53. But in that case, Duggan would be occupying a spot that otherwise could be devoted to more important depth at another position. The reality is if the Chargers are forced to play a third-string quarterback, they are unlikely to win the game anyway. The Chargers have kept three quarterbacks on the 53-man in each of coach Brandon Staley’s first two seasons: Herbert, Stick and backup Chase Daniel. The team did not want to lose Stick to a potential waiver claim if they cut him, and there was legitimate danger of that happening. I do not see the same danger with Duggan. He should clear waivers, and the Chargers could then re-sign him to their practice squad. Running backs (3)
Austin Ekeler, Joshua Kelley, Isaiah Spiller
Who’s out: Larry Rountree III, Elijah Dotson, Tyler Hoosman
I am going with three running backs for now. But Dotson just had a breakout performance in the preseason opener against the Rams, leading the Chargers with 92 rushing yards and two touchdowns on six carries. He is firmly on my roster bubble now. And he could certainly make the 53-man if he strings together more quality performances over the final six practices and, more importantly, the two remaining preseason games.
Fullback (1)
Zander Horvath
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Who’s out: No one
At this stage of camp, Horvath is on all of the first-team core-four special teams units: kick return, punt, punt return and kickoff. The Chargers love his versatility as a featured special teams player, particularly on kick and punt coverage. I consider him a lock for the roster for this reason. Receivers (6)
Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Joshua Palmer, Quentin Johnston, Derius Davis, Keelan Doss
Who’s out: John Hightower, Pokey Wilson, Terrell Bynum, Milton Wright, Darrius Shepherd, Jalen Guyton (PUP)
I have yet to see Guyton at training camp. Unlike defensive linemen Austin Johnson and Otito Ogbonnia, the other two Chargers on the physically unable to perform list, Guyton has not been working in the rehab area. The Chargers have the option of moving Guyton to the reserve/PUP list when they make their final cuts. In that case, he would have to miss the first four games of the regular season before he is eligible to be activated. That seems likelier now than it did at the beginning of camp. Guyton tore his ACL in Week 3 of last season. If Guyton starts the regular season on PUP, that leaves a spot open in the receiver room. I think the Chargers will keep six receivers. Davis is an electric returner, which he put on full display Saturday night with an 81-yard punt return touchdown. But he is limited as a receiver at this stage of his young career. Davis is a slot-only player, and his offensive role in 2023 will likely be as more of a gadget player. The Chargers could use a sixth receiver who can provide more offensively than Davis. Hightower was making a really strong case for that spot, but he has not practiced since Aug. 8 with an injury. I see this as a competition between Hightower and Doss. Doss has been a consistent performer in camp. He is a good route-runner with trustworthy hands. He also has the size the Chargers like at receiver.
Tight ends (4)
Gerald Everett, Donald Parham Jr., Tre’ McKitty, Stone Smartt
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Who’s out: Hunter Kampmoyer, Michael Ezeike
Smartt has been a mainstay on the first-team punt return unit. Tracking the starting special teams groups can be a reliable way to project these bottom-of-the-roster spots. Offensive line (9)
Rashawn Slater, Zion Johnson, Corey Linsley, Jamaree Salyer, Trey Pipkins III, Will Clapp, Jordan McFadden, Zack Bailey, Foster Sarell
Who’s out: Brenden Jaimes, Isaac Weaver, Austen Pleasants, Andrew Trainer, Johari Branch, Matt Kaskey
Johnson and Salyer both started Saturday at the two guard spots and played 16 snaps apiece. McFadden replaced Johnson at left guard after two series. Bailey replaced Salyer at right guard. Those two are ahead of Jaimes on the depth chart right now. Jaimes played exclusively center, replacing Clapp later in the first half. The starting five is set: Slater, Johnson, Linsley, Salyer, Pipkins. Clapp is the backup center. Sarell is the tackle depth. McFadden and Bailey are both primarily guards who can kick out to tackle in a pinch. Jaimes has the center flex going for him, but I do not see that as a necessary skill set with Clapp on the roster. I think Jaimes is the odd man out right now.
Defensive line (6)
Sebastian Joseph-Day, Morgan Fox, Scott Matlock, Christopher Hinton, Nick Williams, David Moa
Who’s out: Jerrod Clark, Terrance Lang, CJ Okoye, Austin Johnson (PUP), Otito Ogbonnia (PUP)
Johnson and Obgonnia have been working in the rehab area, but I am starting to question if either player will be ready for Week 1. Both are coming back from very significant knee injuries. As it stands, I am projecting both to start the season on PUP and miss the first four games. But that could definitely change through this final stretch of camp. Among the young defensive linemen who would be fighting for spots if Johnson and Ogbonnia start the season on PUP, Moa has really distanced himself, particularly as an interior pass rusher. Edge rushers (4)
Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack, Tuli Tuipulotu, Chris Rumph II
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Who’s out: Carlo Kemp, Ty Shelby, Brevin Allen, Andrew Farmer
No surprises here. Tuipulotu and Rumph both played 11 snaps on Saturday. In one three-play sequence in the first quarter, Tuipulotu had pressures on back-to-back snaps before Rumph got the defense off the field with a third-down sack. This depth is looking really solid entering the season. Tuipulotu has started to flash more regularly in practice over the last week or so.
Linebackers (5)
Eric Kendricks, Kenneth Murray Jr., Daiyan Henley, Nick Niemann, Amen Ogbongbemiga
Who’s out: Blake Lynch, Mikel Jones, Nathan East
Kendricks and Murray are penciled in as the starting duo. Henley is on three of the core-four special teams units: punt, punt return and kickoff. Niemann and Ogbongbemiga are on all four. They are two of the Chargers’ most important special teams pieces. Safety (5)
Derwin James Jr., Alohi Gilman, JT Woods, Raheem Layne, Mark Webb Jr.
Who’s out: AJ Finley, Tyler Baker-Williams, Michael Jacquet
Webb got the start Saturday night at safety over Layne. He had his first interception of training camp on Aug. 6. Webb is on first-team kick return and kickoff. Layne, meanwhile, is on first-team kick return, punt return and kickoff. I think both make the roster primarily as special teams players. Cornerback (5)
J.C. Jackson, Michael Davis, Asante Samuel Jr., Ja’Sir Taylor, Deane Leonard
Who’s out: Kemon Hall, Cam Brown, Tiawan Mullen, AJ Uzodinma
Jackson, who is working his way back from a ruptured patellar tendon, did not begin camp on PUP. He missed three practices last weekend after a minor setback but returned to team drills on Aug. 10. Barring another more significant setback, Jackson will be on the 53-man. The bigger question is whether he will be ready for Week 1. That is to be determined. The Chargers have the depth to handle that uncertainty. If Jackson is not ready, Samuel would likely start on the outside opposite Davis with Taylor in the slot. If Jackson is ready, Samuel has distanced himself in the competition with Taylor at slot corner and would likely start there with Jackson and Davis on the outside. Specialists (3)
P JK Scott, LS Josh Harris, K Cameron Dicker
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Who’s out: K Dustin Hopkins
Hopkins has not kicked field goals in a live practice period since Day 2 because of an undisclosed injury. Dicker is running away with this competition as a result. We will see if Hopkins can return to practice this week and make any sort of late-stage push.
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