So far, the Los Angeles Chargers have put three weeks of practice and two preseason matchups behind them. But over the past few days, the picture of how the final roster will shape up has only gotten cloudier.
The injury to Tyler Biadasz obviously threw a wrench in things. So did Junior Colson's splash pick-six on Thursday night against the San Francisco 49ers. So, for that matter, did the lower-body injury Kyle Kennard suffered, which forced him to miss a pivotal outing against San Francisco.
Many things across this roster haven't changed. But as we enter the final week of camp, there are a number of players who will have a chance to finalize their fate— one way or the other.
Tyler Biadasz's injury throws a curveball in newest 53-man roster predictions
QB (2): Justin Herbert, Trey Lance
Forgive me if I'm somewhat terse on a couple of these positions, but I figure it's better to save the word count for where there's some actual intrigue.
Jim Harbaugh has said that the competition between Lance and DJ Uiagalelei for the QB2 spot is "tight", but it's hard to see how either quarterbacks has done anything to prove themselves worthy of claiming that spot. It seems at this point like Los Angeles will stick with Lance by default— but there's certainly a world where exploring external backup options could be the right move.
RB (3): Omarion Hampton, Keaton Mitchell, Kimani Vidal
The run game as a whole struggled in the preseason matchup against the 49ers, and neither Mitchell nor Vidal made a major impact. The adjustments Vidal still needs to make in Mike McDaniel's outside-zone ground game keep popping up on his limited tape.
There's almost certainly no path to him being displaced from the RB2/3 role, though. If that happens, it will be a mid-season development.
WR (6): Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, Tre' Harris, Brenen Thompson, Derius Davis, KeAndre Lambert-Smith
Last week, I had Davis missing the roster while Lambert-Smith's showing against the Houston Texans elevated him to WR5 status. That was based on an assumption that Los Angeles might waver on their support of Davis as the clear punt and kick returner for this team.
They haven't.
Davis took punt returns in the first quarter against the 49ers, while Lambert-Smith alternated in after him. It seems as though both receivers are going to make this roster, and Biadasz's injury along the O-line makes that path slightly easier.
TE/FB (4): Charlie Kolar, David Njoku, Oronde Gadsden II, Alec Ingold
We got to see the starters in action on Thursday. While it doesn't seem that a final decision has been made for TE1, Kolar certainly seems to have lined himself up for the job.
What we do know, though, is that Gadsden still has some major improvements to make as an in-line blocker if he's going to be anything more than a utility TE3 this season. He had multiple poor reps against the 49ers, and he's consistently played with the non-starters during the preseason.
The overall landscape of this position hasn't changed much since the start of camp, but we do have a much clearer idea of the internal hierarchy.
OL (9): Rashawn Slater, Jake Slaughter, Cole Strange, Joe Alt, Trey Pipkins, Kayode Awosika, Trevor Penning, Travis Burke, Branson Taylor
This is where things get interesting. Assuming that Biadasz will be placed on the injured reserve before the roster cutdown deadline, there's likely an extra roster spot to be worked in here. Perhaps it goes to Jacob Spomer, who took extensive reps at center with the non-starters against the 49ers. Or perhaps it goes to Logan Taylor, whose positional versatility between guard and tackle could provide an extra layer of depth to the back-end of this room.
For now, though, I have the Chargers sacrificing one of these spots (while keeping Spomer, Taylor, and likely Alex Harkey) on the practice squad in order to fit six wide receivers onto the roster. If things take a turn for the worse with either Davis or Lambert-Smith, though, expect Spomer or Taylor to be on this list on Aug. 30.
It simply depends on how confident Los Angeles feels in pieces like Branson Taylor and Penning to remain healthy this season.
EDGE (5): Khalil Mack, Tuli Tuipulotu, Akheem Mesidor, Nadame Tucker, Bud Dupree
Nothing's changed here. Nadame Tucker has done more than enough to earn his spot—posting three pressures and one tackle against San Francisco and continually showing his intensity during training camp. It will ultimately come down to Dupree and Kyle Kennard (although the Chargers could move on from both and free up an extra spot for the O-line).
Kennard missed the game against San Francisco, and it seems as though he's the clear cut candidate heading into the final week of camp.
DT (5): Teair Tart, Jamaree Caldwell, Dalvin Tomlinson, Justin Eboigbe, Nick Barrett
This room has been relatively set in stone since the start of camp as well. Tart, Caldwell, and Tomlinson will be the started in five-man fronts, and each has shown some sort of flash in training camp to justify their placements in those roles. Eboigbe and Barrett have also been impressive, and there's ample reason to feel good about this room heading into the season.
TeRah Edwards and/or Jahmeer Carter will likely stick with the organization on the practice squad, but there's not much of a path for them to make the roster at this point.
LB (5) Daiyan Henley, Denzel Perryman, Troy Dye, Marlowe Wax, Del'Shawn Phillips
Marlowe Wax continues to show out, and that leaves Junior Colson without a real path to the roster even in spite of his impressive pick-six against San Francisco. I think there's certainly a case to be made for Colson—one that centers around his athleticism and his upside in coverage as the future of the Chargers' linebacker room remains undetermined.
But with the edges of the roster as tight as they are, I don't see a way to truly justify Colson taking a roster spot away from, say, Tucker or Lambert-Smith.
CB (6): Cam Hart, Tarheeb Still, Donte Jackson, Rodney Shelley, Eric Rogers, Deane Leonard
For the sake of differentiation, I'm going to substitute Rodney Shelley in the spot that, in previous iterations of these predictions, has been claimed by both Nikko Reed and Avery Smith. Reed is the incumbent backup nickel behind Derwin James Jr., but both Shelley and Smith have had impressive camps after being picked up as UDFAs this offseason.
Last week, Smith was the hot hand. But this week it's Shelley, who posted two majorly impressive PBUs against San Francisco and flashed his pure range and catch-point abilities for the first time in live action. Ultimately, Los Angeles probably would like to keep all three on the roster. But with Eric Rogers and Deane Leonard also showing promise, there's likely only one spot to go around.
S (5): Derwin James Jr., Elijah Molden, Tony Jefferson, RJ Mickens, Genesis Smith
It's starting to seem like the competition for the third safety spot will be decided over the course of the regular season. Genesis Smith made some impressive plays in the Chargers' preseason opener, but it the momentum around him has died down a bit. We haven't seen a ton out of Mickens or Jefferson, either.
That doesn't mean there's reason to question the strength of this room. But from what we can tell, none of the three safeties have truly solidified themselves as the favorite to step in alongside Elijah Molden when James slides to his traditional nickel/dime role.
Specialists (3): Cameron Dicker, Josh Harris, JK Scott
No, JK Scott won't get cut because of his failure to tackle Jacob Cowing on the 49ers' punt return touchdown. That's likely all there is to say about this room— unless there's some sort of a long snapper battle brewing between Josh Harris and Peter Bowden, both of whom remain on the 90-man roster.
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