It's still early in training camp. But at this time of year, many Los Angeles Chargers fans are tuned in to every rep and every development— especially as the team enters the season with Super Bowl expectations on their shoulders.
For many positions, including the offensive line, it's far too early to draw any sweeping conclusions. The coaching staff likely won't be, at least until the pads come on and we enter preseason action.
But there are still some storylines worth keeping an eye on. Here are the biggest risers and fallers from the first week of training camp in El Segundo.
Chargers' rookies were stirring things up in the first week of training camp
Riser: Brenen Thompson, WR
If there's anyone that's garnered the most hype through the first week of action, it's been rookie receiver Brenen Thompson. Ever since he was selected in the fourth round by the Chargers in the 2026 NFL Draft, even the casual fan knew that his speed would be appealing to McDaniel.
But Thompson has consistently impressed both in his acclimation to the offense and his work ethic, and he's made multiple impressive catches in team drills that have cemented that impression on a wider scale. Opportunities will be relatively limited outside of the top trio of receivers in Los Angeles, but Thompson is rapidly making his case to be a major weapon for McDaniel in 2026.
Riser: Akheem Mesidor, EDGE
Mesidor is another player who's impressed with his work ethic and quick command of his role through the first week of training camp, and that's arguably a more important development than Thompson's rise.
The Chargers took a swing on Mesidor in the first round of the Draft with the intention of him joining their primary trio of outside linebackers. He'll use his speed and power to help complement Tuli Tuipulotu and Khalil Mack in the nuanced pass-rushing schemes that Chris O'Leary will likely look to carry over from Jesse Minter's tenure in Los Angeles.
Mesidor doesn't need to replicate Odafe Oweh's production as a rookie, but the Chargers do need him to be immediately impactful as a pass rusher. He began to lay the groundwork for that last week, and that's enough reason to include him on this list.
Riser: Charlie Kolar, TE
The competition for TE1 is a sneaky battle looming over the Chargers during the month of August. After adding Kolar and David Njoku to complement emergent pass catcher Oronde Gadsden II this offseason, they have an arsenal of versatile weapons, and each should have a major role to play in McDaniel's scheme, which makes heavy use of two and three-TE sets.
These pieces will be rotated heavily throughout 2026, and there's a case to be made that there will not be a true TE1 at all in Los Angeles this season. But if any player has the clearest case for that role, it's Kolar.
Kolar is not only the best blocking tight end on the Chargers roster, but he spoke in his press availability on Friday about how he hopes to maximize his pass-catching skill set this season after four years in a limited role with the Baltimore Ravens. He's not necessarily a riser because of his on-field performance, but it feels like there's something brewing here that will be on fuller display over the next couple of weeks.
Faller: Bud Dupree, EDGE
Dupree didn't necessarily have any bad moments in camp, and it's truly hard to evaluate before the pads come on. But if Mesidor is establishing himself firmly as what the Chargers need out of their third edge rusher, then Dupree's veteran skill-set also becomes slightly less valuable.
Nadame Tucker also impressed this week with his pure speed and intensity in individual drills, leaving Dupree's spot on the 53-man roster looking slightly more in jeopardy than it was when training camp began.
Faller: KeAndre Lambert-Smith, WR
Lambert-Smith's position as a faller is also a case of extension. If Thompson is cementing himself as a real weapon in McDaniel's offense, then Lambert-Smith's chance of making the roster— let alone finding an increase in snap share from his rookie season— takes a severe hit.
Lambert-Smith had an underwhelming rookie season in Greg Roman's scheme, posting just five receptions for 51 yards and one touchdown.
McDaniel tends to utilize less wide receivers in the normal course of his offense than most coordinators, and there's no guarantee he even decides to keep six on the roster heading into 2026. It seems as though Lambert-Smith will now be locked into a roster battle with Derius Davis, and Davis has a clear edge there as the Chargers' current return man.
With the potential for extra roster spots to be taken up by the offensive line and the inside linebacker room, Lambert-Smith will need to impress over the rest of camp if he wants to hang onto his job.
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