The Los Angeles Chargers' preseason opener against the Houston Texans yielded a number of positive developments.
KeAndre Lambert-Smith showed out early in the game as Trey Lance settled upon him as a reliable target. He'll be battling to make the roster as the fifth or sixth wide receiver, and any flashes of athleticism and catch-point ability he can show in the preseason will have major implications. Akheem Mesidor and Nadame Tucker, likewise, looked solid off the edge. Even Jake Slaughter looked promising in his first live-action reps at left guard.
But some of the biggest standouts of the matchup were players who, frankly, have a very slim chance of making the final 53-man roster. These are genuine practice squad candidates, but each has quietly increased their stock after the Chargers' first preseason game.
3 practice squad candidates to watch after Chargers' preseason opener
1. Amar Johnson, RB
Johnson was the easiest inclusion on this list. Although he showed out last preseason as a UDFA with the Green Bay Packers, he was ultimately released, signing with Los Angeles' practice squad and spending most of last season there.
But in the Chargers' first preseason matchup of 2026, he looked like a genuine (preseason) star. He posted just six carries for 17 yards on the ground, but he tacked on two rushing touchdowns in addition to his two receptions for 68 yards through the air. He showed he had the burst and the pass-catching ability to be a real asset in Mike McDaniel's scheme if the time ever comes for an elevation from the practice squad.
If he were going to make the roster, he'd need to displace Kimani Vidal sometime in the next two weeks— and that's unlikely. But he'll certainly be someone to keep an eye on over the remainder of training camp.
2. TeRah Edwards, DT
While the Chargers' offensive line got much of the love after the game (and deservedly so), their defensive line was equally impressive. The Texans' protection looked generally outmatched in the run game, and Edwards had a pair of massive stops on third and fourth down to stall out a pivotal Houston drive.
Los Angeles' interior defensive line is much too deep for Edwards to squeeze onto the final roster. Dalvin Tomlinson, Teair Tart, and Jamaree Caldwell will be the starters, while Nick Barrett and Justin Eboigbe will take on rotational roles. This roster is likely too tight around the edges to distribute a sixth roster spot in that room to Edwards, but he was easily the Chargers' most impressive defensive contributor in their opener.
3. Jacob Spomer, C
Spomer has a chance to make the roster— if Los Angeles decides to carry a true backup center. He's taken the bulk of third-team reps behind Tyler Biadasz and Slaughter in camp, and he posted a PFF grade of 82.0 during the matchup against the Texans, allowing zero pressures on 27 pass-blocking snaps.
The UDFA out of Fresno State looks like a potential long-term asset at center. But the Chargers can likely only afford to give out 10 roster spots to the offensive line, and with the positional flexibility that both Slaughter and Cole Strange provide, it feels unlikely that one of them will go to a dedicated backup center. Josh Kaltenberger, who sat on the practice squad last season, is also of note here, but it seems as though Spomer has firmly displaced him on Los Angeles' depth chart.
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