Some things have already been settled for the Los Angeles Chargers over the first three weeks of training camp.
It seems as though Nadame Tucker is slated to make the 53-man roster, and both UDFAs Avery Smith and Rodney Shelley stand a chance depending on how the secondary shakes out. If Branson Taylor's injury isn't ultimately that serious, he seems like a lock as well based on how his camp has gone so far.
But heading into the final week of training camp, they still have more questions than answers—and they have just three practices and their final preseason matchup against the Los Angeles Rams to sort things out.
If we want to quote a recent Harbaugh-ism, it's time to see how Los Angeles ultimately wants to shuffle their "deck of cards."
4 most important roster questions facing the Chargers in the final week of training camp
1. Does Derius Davis hold onto his special teams role?
Davis' role was in question almost as soon as the Chargers added Brenen Thompson and Keaton Mitchell this offseason—both of whom have the speed and explosiveness to be potential threats as kick and punt returners.
Davis' production has steadily dropped since his All-Pro rookie campaign in 2023, and he dealt with injuries last year that clearly hindered his performance. If he ultimately loses his special teams role, his lack of impact in the regular course of the offense would have make him a clear cut candidate.
But so far, it seems like he's held on by a thread. Although Mitchell and even players like KeAndre Lambert-Smith have gotten reps on special teams, Davis took the reps in the first quarter of Los Angeles' matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. But with the edges of this roster being as tight as they are, the Chargers will likely need to be willing to carry six receivers into the season if Davis is to make the roster.
That's a decision they'll need to make over this final week.
2. How do they re-shuffle the offensive line spots?
The offensive line has always been the most intriguing narrative of training camp for the Chargers, and the long-term injury to Tyler Biadasz only throws things back into a controlled chaos. If we're excluding Biadasz, the Chargers now have 13 linemen competing for what will likely only be nine or 10 roster spots.
The starters (Rashawn Slater, Kayode Awosika, Jake Slaughter, Cole Strange, and Joe Alt) are all obviously roster locks. So are Trey Pipkins III, Travis Burke, and probably Trevor Penning. So who takes those final one or two roster spots?
Has Branson Taylor secured his place with his offseason transformation? What about Logan Taylor, who possesses positional flexibility between guard and tackle? Does Biadasz's injury open up a backup center role for Jacob Spomer?
We'll find out this week how Los Angeles actually wishes to shape their depth along the offensive line—a primary goal of theirs this offseason.
3. Do Kyle Kennard or Bud Dupree make the cut?
As mentioned above, Tucker seems destined to make the cut for the 53-man roster. His performance has been excellent, and that likely puts him as the fourth pass rusher behind Khalil Mack, Tuli Tuipulotu, and Akheem Mesidor.
Do the Chargers even want to carry five edge rushers? If they do, is it Kennard or Dupree who makes the cut? Kennard missed a vital opportunity when he was absent from the 49ers matchup, and the effort and growth simply haven't been there through training camp. But there's certainly still some upside to be unlocked in his second season, and Dupree has declined consistently since he put on a Chargers uniform.
There's a chance this decision has already been made, but Kennard might have a chance to turn things around if he can get back on the field quickly.
4. Is Junior Colson's push for a roster spot enough?
Colson had his highlight of the preseason with an excellent pick-six against San Francisco, where he perfectly read the play and cut off a pass from 49ers quarterback Adrian Martinez. It served as a stark reminder of the potential he still possesses as an athletic coverage piece in the middle of the defense.
But Marlowe Wax has outperformed him in camp in terms of both intensity and consistency. If Los Angeles wants to elevate Wax's defensive opportunities from the 4% snap share he saw during his rookie season, there's very little room for Colson to make his way into the fold. Don't be surprised if he makes the cut based on his long-standing connections to Jim Harbaugh, but Colson is certainly still in danger as Los Angeles enters the final week of training camp.
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