Chargers just made a questionable roster decision look even worse

One of the most surprising developments from the LA Chargers' initial 53-man roster was the team only carrying three running backs. And if that wasn't enough of a surprise, one of those running backs is Najee Harris, who didn't practice for the first time until after roster cuts were made.

It was a bold risk by the Chargers that instantly came back to bite. Standout UDFA running back Raheim Sanders, who looked like the most talented back in the room not named Omarion Hampton during the preseason, was swiftly claimed off waivers by the Cleveland Browns.

The Chargers re-signed Kimani Vidal and Nyheim Miller-Hines to the practice squad but that alone may not be enough depth. Knowing this, the Chargers worked out a collection of running backs most fans have never heard of. With Sanders already practicing for the Browns, these workouts feel like a cruel joke.

Chargers work out a quartet of unknown running backs after letting Raheim Sanders walk

Don't feel guilty if you've never heard of any of these running backs. You're not alone.

Amar Johnson is a UDFA who didn't make the roster (or practice squad) with the Green Bay Packers. Keilan Johnson was drafted in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars and does not have an NFL carry to his name. Anthony Tyus is a UDFA who was cut by the Seattle Seahawks. Owen Wright is a UDFA from 2023 who was just cut by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Sanders may also be a UDFA, but it's safe to say he has more potential than any of these guys. After all, Sanders was claimed by another team off waivers. These players were not.

It's clear the Chargers are looking for running back depth options ahead of a likely practice squad elevation in Week 1. Even if Najee Harris plays, he won't have a massive workload as he gets back into NFL shape.

Thus, the Chargers will likely elevate either Vidal or Miller-Hines to serve as a break-glass option to eat snaps if needed. With this in mind, the Bolts may want to add another back to the practice squad to take some burden away from Vidal or Miller-Hines.

Of course, the better solution would have been to just keep Sanders on the 53-man roster and run with four running backs. There were other areas of the roster the Chargers could have cut from that probably wouldn't have resulted in a talented player getting taken away.

Heck, the Chargers would have gotten more out of keeping Sanders than they did keeping Tucker Fisk. A fourth tight end is a bit redundant, and it's more likely than not that Fisk would have cleared waivers and returned to the practice squad anyway.

Yet that isn't what the Chargers did as GM Joe Hortiz likely expected Sanders to clear waivers and return to the Bolts. But that isn't what happened and now the Bolts are forced to work out no-name options to provide worse depth.