Many of the Los Angeles Chargers' position groups were actually relatively set in stone coming into camp—a luxury that not many teams have.
It's allowed them to experiment with their hierarchies on both sides of the ball while also seeing what they could get out of their true depth pieces. They've gotten impressive performances from many of their young defensive players, and the running back room was especially a highlight of their three preseason matchups.
But at the end of the day, only 53 players can make the roster. The rest, as Jim Harbaugh puts it, will be vying for spots on the "opportunity squad."
A deep organization isn't just stacked across their 53-man roster. They also have reliable contributors they can turn to on the 17-man practice squad when injuries strike.
Players aren't claimed on waivers as often as it's made out to be, but here are three potential cut candidates for whom things could get tricky when the final 53-man roster is released.
3 cut candidates that may ultimately not clear waivers for the Chargers
1. Amar Johnson, RB
The running back room has been solidifed since the start of training camp. Omarion Hampton was always going to be RB1, and Keaton Mitchell and Kimani Vidal were going to need to duke it out for RB2/3 duties. Given how tight the edges of this roster are along the offensive line and in certain portions of the defense, it never seemed likely that Los Angeles would carry four running backs onto the final roster.
But both Johnson and UDFA Gregory Desrosiers certainly made their cases. Johnson wasn't able to top his performance in the Chargers' preseason opener against the Houston Texans—in which he posted two receptions for 68 yards and tacked on two touchdowns on the ground. But if there was an injury today, Johnson would almost certainly be the first call up from the practice squad considering the burst and athleticism he flashed during the preseason.
For teams looking for RB depth, Johnson may garner some interest on waivers. But the Chargers should be relatively safe here compared to the other two on this list.
2. Junior Colson, LB
Colson came into this preseason with a steep hill to climb if he wanted to save his roster spot. Daiyan Henley, Denzel Perryman, and Troy Dye are relatively cemented as Los Angeles' top-three linebackers, and with Marlowe Wax making a push for a real defensive workload, Colson always seemed like he was going to be the odd man out.
But he flashed his athletic skill set and versatility across all three preseason matchups, posting a pick-six against the San Francisco 49ers and six total tackles against the Los Angeles Rams. If Wax ultimately beats him out for the final ILB spot, Colson could certainly garner some interest on the waiver wire.
The Chargers just spent a third-round pick on him in 2024, though, and there's certainly still some major upside to be unlocked there. That could prove to be a major consideration in how the final roster shakes out.
3. Nadame Tucker, EDGE
There was a point in camp where Tucker seemed like somewhat of a lock for the roster, and he was actually pretty productive across his three preseason appearances—posting six pressures and one tackle on 103 total snaps.
But Chris O'Leary has raved about Bud Dupree's professionalism and consistency, and that makes it seem like he'll be the fourth edge rusher on this roster behind Khalil Mack, Tuli Tuipulotu, and Akheem Mesidor. I still think Tucker has second-year defender Kyle Kennard beat if the Chargers choose to carry a fifth outside linebacker on the initial roster.
But if Tucker doesn't make the cut, he's the type of developmental piece that O'Leary will clearly be hoping stays with the organization beyond this season.
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