The Los Angeles Chargers, more than anything else this preseason, have gotten some impressive performances on the defensive side of the ball.
Both Junior Colson and Marlowe Wax were playing at the top of their games by the time we reached the finale against the Los Angeles Rams, and it's likely that only one can squeeze into the existing inside linebacker room. Even depth pieces like TeRah Edwards and Andre Carter II had their inspiring moments throughout training camp.
But as difficult as some of these decisions will be, the real conundrum for Los Angeles likely lies in their secondary. Both Avery Smith and Rodney Shelley have been among the most striking preseason risers for the organization, but there's very little chance that both players are able to stick on the initial 53-man roster.
That leaves the Chargers with a nearly impossible decision to make this weekend.
Avery Smith and Rodney Shelley both deserve to make the roster— but the Chargers will need to decide between them
Coming into camp, the departure of Benjamin St-Juste left a clear opening in the Chargers' cornerback room. Although Donte Jackson, Tarheeb Still, and Cam Hart would be destined to take the bulk of the snaps on the outside, someone would need to replace at least a portion of the 37% defensive snap-share that St-Juste took on last season.
The favorite for that role heading into camp was second-year defender Eric Rogers, and he seemed slated to take over the final cornerback spot next to backup nickel Nikko Reed and special-teams ace Deane Leonard.
But Smith and Shelley quickly disrupted that storyline. Although neither Smith nor Shelley has the archetypal size to play outside corner, they've showcased their versatility and intensity at virtually every turn over the past month.
Smith was the clear winner, between the pair, of the matchup against the Houston Texans, posting three combined tackles and an impressive PBU. But Shelley then countered with his own standout performance against the San Francisco 49ers, posting a pair of highly athletic pass-breakups in the deeper portions of the field and looking generally solid as a tackler.
If one or the other had separated themselves in the preseason finale against the Los Angeles Rams, perhaps this decision might be easier. But they both played at the top of their games, and that only makes this decision more difficult for Los Angeles.
Smith posted six tackles in the So-Fi matchup to Shelley's five, but both were highly active and saw extensive snaps between the slot and the outside over the course of the game.
Right now, it seems as though both have Rogers beat for a 53-man roster spot. But if the Chargers want to hang onto Reed as their backup nickel and use Shelley or Smith as a versatile depth piece behind their primary trio of corners, how do they decide between the pair?
Ultimately, it will come down to whoever they think has more immediate upside against athletic receivers. If I had to guess right now, that would be Shelley— but we won't know until the final roster unfolds on Sunday.
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