For the most part, we have a pretty accurate picture of where the tensions and battles will lie when the Los Angeles Chargers enter training camp in late July.
Kayode Awosika, Jake Slaughter, and Trevor Penning will be battling for the starting left guard spot. Genesis Smith, R.J. Mickens, and Tony Jefferson will be battling for snaps at deep safety when Derwin James moves to the nickel/dime spot. UDFA Nadame Tucker will be challenging both Kyle Kennard and Bud Dupree for a role in the edge rusher room.
But we don't have a ton of clarity on how the offensive line battles will shape up beyond the competition for LG. The Chargers currently have 14 offensive linemen on the roster, and there are likely only nine or 10 roster spots to go around.
They've shown no indication to this point whether they plan to utilize Slaughter or Cole Strange as the backup center option behind free agent signing Tyler Biadasz. But if they want to keep a straight-foward backup for the position on the roster, it could create an unexpected battle between Josh Kaltenberger and UDFA Jacob Spomer.
Chargers need to decide if they want a true backup behind Tyler Biadasz in 2026
After upgrading from Bradley Bozeman with Biadasz, it's fair to think the Chargers are relatively set at the center position, especially with the positional flexibility that both Slaughter and Strange provide. Slaughter solely played center at the college level, and Strange saw snaps there in 2024 with the New England Patriots.
But Los Angeles, more than most teams, have seen how injuries can decimate an offensive line. Especially if Slaughter is going to take on the starting left guard role in Week 1, the Chargers may be inclined to carry a true backup center on the roster.
This only intensifies the roster crunch the offensive line is facing, however.
If anything, Kaltenberger would have a slight edge in this situation. He spent last season on the Chargers' practice squad after being picked up as a UDFA in the offseason. While he was a depth lineman at Purdue over his first three college seasons, he excelled when he took on starting center duties at Maryland as a Senior, allowing just 11 pressures and two sacks across 511 pass-blocking snaps (per Pro Football Focus). At 6'6" and 308 lbs, Kaltenberger is an impressive physical specimen as well.
Spomer, meanwhile, would be the underdog in the fight. He signed with Los Angeles as a UDFA this offseason out of Fresno State, and he gives up a decent amount of size to Kaltenberger at 6'2" and 290 lbs. He played left tackle during his first three college season, but he truly excelled when he made the switch to center. He's an explosive and agile blocker as well— one that fits perfectly within Mike McDaniel and Butch Barry's blocking scheme.
As of now, it seems as though both players are destined for the practice squad in 2026. But if the Chargers decide that either is worth of a backup role— likely leaving a depth guard like Alex Harkey or Ben Cleveland off the roster— we could have a surprising competition to follow in training camp.
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