As we enter the final segment of the NFL offseason and await the start of training camp in late July, the only natural thing to do is speculate about the potential roster and position battles we'll see when the team reconvenes. The Los Angeles Chargers will have a number of these to address when the time comes.
They have UDFAs, like Nadame Tucker and Lander Barton, vying to make the roster. They also have a number of drafted rookies on both sides of the ball who will be looking to carve out roles in 2026. Although both Jim Harbaugh and Mike McDaniel made it clear they weren't truly evaluating players during OTAs and mandatory minicamp, we at least got a pretty clear picture of how things might shape up in training camp.
Kayode Awosika, for example, took first-team reps at left guard for much of the offseason program ahead of Trevor Penning and Jake Slaughter. That likely holds some significance, although we'll need to wait to see the full extent of it.
But there's one name we largely haven't heard throughout the offseason program— fullback, defensive lineman, and now tight end Scott Matlock. As a result, it remains unclear what his role, if any, will be in 2026, leaving Matlock with a dangerous tightrope to walk in order to hang onto his roster spot.
There doesn't seem to be a place for Scott Matlock to fit on the 53-man roster
Although Matlock began his Chargers career on the defensive line, Harbaugh quickly decided to give him a shot at fullback in his second season— finding a way to both get one of his favorite players on the field and temporarily fill a positional gap for the team. But now that McDaniel has brought in Alec Ingold, who was his fullback over the past four seasons in Miami, Matlock has simply been replaced in that role.
Chargers TEs coach Chandler Henley teased a move for Matlock to tight end earlier this offseason. But it's difficult to see a path for him to carve out a spot there, either. The tight end room is currently set with Oronde Gadsden II, David Njoku, and Charlie Kolar. Even beyond that, Los Angeles also has a trio of UDFA tight ends vying for a roster spot.
A move back to the defensive line is likely out of the question as well with the additions of Dalvin Tomlinson and Nick Barrett this offseason.
There's simply no room for Matlock on this iteration of the roster. Thomas Martinez at Sports Illustrated didn't include Matlock in his projection of the 53-man roster, and that seems unlikely to be proved wrong.
But Matlock's path to saving his Chargers future likely lies through the practice squad. If Matlock is able to show his continued versatility in training camp— perhaps taking snaps at all three positions— he could position himself as a highly valuable piece to have within the organization.
Say there's an injury to Ingold or Kolar. Having Matlock available, even on the practice squad, could provide some temporary relief for the Chargers. But at the same time, asking Matlock to focus on that sort of versatile role in McDaniel's scheme could put him at a severe disadvantage in any true positional battle he'll be taking part in. If he needs to develop as a tight end to fill the needs of the roster, Los Angeles must allow him to do it.
But it's likely that it will lead to Matlock's relegation to the practice squad come July.
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