Chargers' initial 2026 practice squad provides some enticing depth options

The Chargers ended up fairly lucky in the 2026 initial waiver claims cycle. In 2025, the team lost RB Raheim Sanders, CB Trikweze Bridges, and WR Dalevon Campbell on waivers. This year, zero of their preseason cuts were awarded to other teams. This gave the Chargers an opportunity to bring names like CB Nikko Reed and RB Greg Desrosiers Jr. back on the practice squad.

Here is a brief rundown of the Chargers' initial 2026 practice squad.

The Chargers officially have some depth options behind their main roster now.

RB Greg Desrosiers Jr.

In part because of the waiver claim the Browns used on Raheim Sanders last year, Chargers fans were concerned about possibly losing Desrosiers. In the teams' final preseason game vs. the Rams, he had nine carries for 118 yards and a touchdown. It included this highlight 34 yard rushing TD:

In addition to a solid rushing performance in the preseason, Desrosiers also handled special teams duties. He had reps on both kick/punt coverage and return units. If needed on gameday, the Memphis UDFA RB showed that he can be used in whichever ways the team may need him.

CB Nikko Reed

I had the second-year Chargers cornerback initially making the 53-man roster in my predictions. He was a surprise cut in part due to the nickel depth he provided last season. Reed played 41 of his 50 snaps as a slot corner rotating in with Derwin James Jr. The Chargers get him back on the practice squad and he'll probably be active on at least some gamedays.

Outside of James and potentially Tarheeb Still in some instances, the Chargers are missing some nickel depth on the main roster. With the Avery Smith trade shaking things up, it was necessary for the team to retain Reed in some capacity.

DT Jahmeer Carter

Jahmeer Carter was a preseason standout along the defensive line along with names like TeRah Edwards. With Edwards traded yesterday, the Chargers get a key reserve who showed he can hold up at the line of scrimmage. Carter had two tackles for loss and a sack against Houston in Week 1 of the preseason.

CB Kaiir Elam (reported, not official)

Kaiir Elam's signing has been reported by several media members. T Laekin Vakalahi's IPP status will allow the Chargers to add a 17th player. But for now, it's not technically official that he's on the practice squad.

Veteran former first-round pick Kaiir Elam has bounced around the league in recent years with stops in Dallas and Kansas City. While he had a solid finish to the preseason with the Chiefs, it was not enough to make their roster. The Chargers needed more depth at corner considering how their roster cutdown moves went, so the acquisition of the veteran isn't surprising. It's much better for Elam to be on a practice squad as opposed to a main roster at this point in his career.

QB DJ Uiagalelei

DJ Uiagalelei made strides this offseason, but it wasn't enough in the estimation of the coaching staff to beat out Trey Lance. That being said, I was relatively impressed with where the former collegiate star was at in terms of processing. There are still some erratic moments from his arm for sure, but the 2026 preseason was night and day from his final season at Florida State. If he keeps developing for another year, maybe he'll get another crack at QB2 next offseason.

LB Junior Colson

Junior Colson had a much improved preseason in pretty much every statistic. On film, he was a significantly improved player when it came to coverage instincts. He dropped his missed tackle rate from 25.0% last preseason to just over 7.1% this year. The roster came down to a numbers game for Colson. Marlowe Wax and Del'Shawn Phillips were much bigger contributors on special teams.

But opportunity will likely come knocking for Colson. The Chargers placed LB Denzel Perryman on IR today, meaning that he'll miss the first four games. It wouldn't be surprising to see Colson use his three practice squad elevations within the first month of the season.

EDGE Caleb Murphy (reported, not official)

Per Jordan Schultz, the team reunited with Caleb Murphy as a practice squad signing. Murphy served as a key special teams contributor and EDGE player in the first half of 2025. He became a waiver claim casualty after New England claimed him when Khalil Mack returned. He spent this offseason with the Giants before being cut.

With Elam and Murphy, the Chargers will likely have to cut one member off of the current practice squad to get the proper number of 17 (Laekin Vakalahi has IPP designation).

RB Amar Johnson

Amar spent most of last season on the Chargers' practice squad after his release from Green Bay. Johnson and Desrosiers definitely had the two flashiest preseasons of the potential practice squad candidates. He's familiar with the system and has the requisite play speed for a Mike McDaniel offense:

LB Lander Barton

Barton played 82 snaps at middle linebacker for the Chargers this preseason, including nearly 70 snaps in their last two games. He proved himself at least in terms of being a practice squad depth option behind the aforementioned Colson.

EDGE Andre Carter II

Andre Carter was signed late in the game this preseason, but he put up some solid film in the Chargers' final two preseason games. Although we'll see if the Chargers end up churning one of the practice squad spots between him and Nadame Tucker with the reported signing of Caleb Murphy.

WR Gary Jennings

Gary Jennings was another signing late in the preseason for the Chargers. He had three receptions for 44 yards in the preseason finale and had solid chemistry with Uiagalelei on offense.

C Josh Kaltenberger

Josh Kaltenberger now occupies the practice squad spot Jacob Spomer probably would have been in prior to the Biadasz injury. But with Spomer's promotion to be starter Jake Slaughter's backup, Kaltenberger gets the opportunity to continue his development on the practice squad.

WR Devonte Ross

Devonte Ross flashed a little bit as a receiver this preseason. But his true role on the practice squad is likely being a special teams returner consideration if there are some injuries to key figures there on the roster. Ross had seven punt return snaps and two kick return snaps this preseason.

TE Evan Svodoba

Evan Svoboda appeared to flash the most of the preseason TEs from an all-around game standpoint. With Scott Matlock on IR, he's the lone true depth option that can be promoted to the main roster as a TE/FB right now.

EDGE Nadame Tucker

There were some pass rush flashes in the preseason from Nadame Tucker. He certainly warranted practice squad consideration. His relationship with DC Chris O'Leary also probably didn't hurt his chances here. But there's still a decent amount of development remaining for Tucker before he can be fully trusted as a down-to-down EDGE player.

As mentioned with Carter, Murphy's signing could possibly threaten Tucker's spot also.

OT Laekin Vakalahi

It was not a pretty preseason for Laekin Vakalahi. He allowed two pressures and a sack with a 0.0 pass blocking grade on 22 snaps. But Vakalahi will count as an "extra" IPP practice squad spot, so the Chargers can keep 17 players. Ultimately, the Chargers have so much depth at tackle on the roster that it's pretty unlikely he actually plays this year. So, let him develop and see where he is next year.

CB Isas Waxter

Isas Waxter likely beat out Eric Rogers and some of the other preseason corners worthy of consideration for this spot. But with Elam coming in, this is also a possible spot at risk for a cut.

DT Terry Webb

Terry Webb showed out in the preseason with a particularly good performance vs the Texans. Along with Jahmeer Carter, the Chargers have solid DT depth here.

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