Week one of training camp has come and gone for the Chargers. The first week is more about setting the table for what's to come in the preseason than it is about deciding these roster battles. But at least relative to a week ago, we have a slightly better idea about the Chargers' practice rotations now.
Think of this as less of a true prediction and more of a current outline that will get more filled in as training camp continues. But without any further ado, here's what I think we might be working with.
Here's how the Chargers' 53-man roster is looking after Week 1 of training camp.
QB (2): Justin Herbert, Trey Lance
Nothing to talk about here really. They re-signed Trey Lance and gave him a small pay bump this offseason. DJ Uiagalelei returns as your emergency third QB that won't count against the roster.
RB (3): Omarion Hampton, Keaton Mitchell, Kimani Vidal
It's also relatively uncomplicated in the running back room. Jaret Patterson, Amar Johnson, and UDFA Greg Desrosiers will compete for the practice squad spots if the top three stay healthy here.
WR (5): Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, Tre' Harris, Brenen Thompson, Derius Davis
This is where things get interesting. Mike McDaniel's Dolphins played much less 11 personnel (3 WRs, 1 TE, 1 RB) relative to the rest of the league. More often, McDaniel will choose to have 0-2 receivers on the field at a time as opposed to 3-4. That's in part why the Chargers were pretty aggressive in adding to the TE/FB room this offseason as opposed to more receivers.
In McDaniel's four years with Miami, he kept fewer than six receivers three times. He even kept four wideouts once on the initial roster once in 2024.
Outside of McDaniel's personnel preferences, the two names I'm watching here are Derius Davis and KeAndre Lambert-Smith. For Davis, the question will be whether he can fend off names like Brenen Thompson or Keaton Mitchell to keep his returner roles. For Lambert-Smith, the question will be what he offers the roster in a world where Thompson is getting much more offensive volume than he is.
For now, I have Davis retaining his returner roles and see the Chargers betting on a bounce back year. But this does feel like the first training camp where he'll be pushed in that regard, so do not be surprised if the conversation is different by the end of August.
TE/FB (4): Charlie Kolar, David Njoku, Oronde Gadsden II, Alec Ingold
Scott Matlock is probably the bubble name to watch here, but it feels like his role is not nearly as multiple as it was last year as the teams' starting fullback. He's now basically just a Y TE as opposed to being an all-around offensive, defensive, and special teams presence. A path to the practice squad exists, but I'm not really seeing one to the main roster.
OL (10): Rashawn Slater, Jake Slaughter, Tyler Biadasz, Cole Strange, Joe Alt, Trey Pipkins, Kayode Awosika, Trevor Penning, Travis Burke, Logan Taylor
Nine of these names are practically locks. The question becomes whether the Chargers go with nine or ten offensive linemen.
For now, I have sixth-round draft pick Logan Taylor sneaking into the last spot. But with both of their respective guard/tackle flexibilities, Branson Taylor is another candidate to make the roster in the 10th spot. It's worth noting he took the starter reps at left guard in practice yesterday. Alex Harkey at guard is also worth a mention.
But when it comes to recent late-round OL draft picks, the Chargers have cut them before. The aforementioned Branson Taylor did not make the 53-man roster last year despite a draft pick investment.
On offense for me right now, it's kind of a keep six wide receivers or 10 offensive linemen debate. At least in the construction of the initial roster right now, I think it's the latter.
EDGE (5): Khalil Mack, Tuli Tuipulotu, Akheem Mesidor, Nadame Tucker, Kyle Kennard
The conversation here starts with the EDGE4 spot. Bud Dupree vs. Nadame Tucker vs. Kyle Kennard. This is one of those spots where the first week of training camp wasn't super informative. Like the left guard race, we'll probably know more when the pads come on (plus preseason games).
But Chris O'Leary's previous relationship with Tucker really feels hard to ignore. If he can even make it a push, it's hard to see him losing the tiebreaker. And in differentiating Kyle Kennard vs. Bud Dupree, I'm leaning on both draft capital used and who's more likely to be a true special teams role player.
If Dupree doesn't win EDGE4, I wouldn't be surprised if the Chargers explored the trade market. Maybe Joe Hortiz can sneak out a conditional sixth or seventh-rounder.
DT (5): Teair Tart, Jamaree Caldwell, Dalvin Tomlinson, Justin Eboigbe, Nick Barrett
Pretty cut and dry group but with a caveat. TeRah Edwards made a nice impression last preseason and received some work with the 1s and 2s on Friday. If the Chargers found a way to keep six on the roster or just wanted to keep Edwards away from waivers, it's possible he makes it.
In theory, a certain disgruntled Tampa Bay star would change the math and names listed here too.
LB (5) Daiyan Henley, Denzel Perryman, Troy Dye, Marlowe Wax, Del'Shawn Phillips
Junior Colson is the name to watch here. The former third-round pick just doesn't make the roster over Marlowe Wax if we're evaluating this on merit. On defense, Wax played well in both the preseason and in his regular season stint vs. the Broncos. Wax also played the second most special teams snaps (341) on the roster last season. Del'Shawn Phillips had the most at 374.
To put it bluntly— if he's not on defense and he wouldn't really impact special teams, what would Colson be doing? Hopefully, he's healthy enough to play better in the preseason than he did last year. There is a very talented college prospect somewhere in there. But if we're going off of what they've done lately, there's simply no way the Chargers should take him over Wax.
CB (6): Cam Hart, Tarheeb Still, Donte Jackson, Nikko Reed, Eric Rogers, Deane Leonard
The Chargers kept 12 DBs on their initial 53-man roster last year, and I expect them to be similarly stocked at that position. The difference would be that barring injury, they wouldn't save an extra spot for an Eric Rogers IR stint. The Chargers did that last offseason to prevent Rogers from hitting waivers.
The top three starters require no explanation. But O'Leary said the group behind them so far was made up of Nikko Reed, Deane Leonard, and the aforementioned Rogers. Reed projects as your slot depth while Leonard is your special teams ace. I don't think he'll play as often as Benjamin St-Juste last season, but Rogers can fill the size void as boundary depth there.
UDFA Avery Smith is also a name that has flashed at training camp, per The Athletic's Daniel Popper.
S (5): Derwin James Jr., Elijah Molden, Tony Jefferson, RJ Mickens, Genesis Smith
I'd be surprised if this wasn't the group of five. The story here is more how the rotation shakes out behind Elijah Molden with Derwin James also having slot corner responsibilities.
Tony Jefferson's spot on the roster will always be something that I think about in the back of my mind. He did get more guaranteed money on his contract this year at roughly $1.4M. But I also would've thought he was safe on the roster last offseason and the Chargers opted to cut him to prevent younger DBs from hitting waivers. I don't think it'll happen this year because of the guarantees and what he's shown on tape. But it's a notable roster-building lever Hortiz has pulled twice before.
Specialists (3): Cameron Dicker, Josh Harris, JK Scott
Nothing to talk about here. I mean, I think they should've brought in punter competition for JK Scott after a rough end to last season. But they didn't.
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