The Los Angeles Chargers are entering their bye week at 7-4, firmly in the mix of the AFC playoff race. In the final stretch of the season, every game will be crucial in staving off teams below them in the standings, like the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens.
Players are no doubt locked in on the playoff push, but there's another side to the coin. These athletes, especially those without multi-year deals, are fighting to earn another payday.
For these four Chargers, their spot on the roster moving forward is at stake in the coming weeks.
4 Chargers players fighting for their roster futures heading into the bye week
OT Trey Pipkins
The Chargers have seen the effects of having poor depth on the offensive line this season. With Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt sidelined, players like Trey Pipkins have been exposed. Pipkins has already allowed 21 pressures this season on fewer than 300 pass-blocking snaps.
His best hope for remaining on the roster next year is that L.A. might not be able to replace as many offensive linemen as it needs to in one offseason.
TE Tyler Conklin
Tyler Conklin was signed as a short-term solution at the tight end position. With the rise of Oronde Gadsden, he's quickly becoming obsolete in Greg Roman's offense. After consistently playing 30 or more snaps per game early in the year, he's now only seeing around ten snaps each week.
Tight end depth is becoming a necessity in the NFL, but Conklin is already 30 years old and is set to hit free agency again next offseason. The Chargers may elect to let him walk and find a replacement in the later rounds of the draft.
OT Austin Deculus
If any Chargers offensive lineman has been exposed this season, it's Austin Deculus. Filling in for Alt, he has struggled immensely to keep up with opposing defensive linemen. Per PFF, he has the worst pass blocking efficiency of any offensive tackle in the NFL with at least 200 pass blocking snaps this season. He's a major part of why the Chargers currently rank 30th in pass block win rate.
Especially with Trevor Penning now on the roster, Deculus may not get the chance to save his spot on the roster.
EDGE Bud Dupree
Since L.A. traded for Odafe Oweh, veteran edge defender Bud Dupree has hardly seen the field. When he does play, he struggles to make a clear impact. After a decent campaign in 2024, he has just one sack so far this year.
Dupree still has one year left on his contract, but the Chargers can save around $3.5 million in 2026 cap space if they cut him this offseason.