The LA Chargers are halfway through their four-game preseason with wins over the Detroit Lions and New Orleans Saints. While there is still much more to learn, the 53-man roster continues to take shape with every snap that is played in a game setting.
Unfortunately, the Chargers are also dealing with various injuries that put the upcoming 53-man roster in jeopardy. This could make it impossible to predict a 100% accurate 53-man roster at this point in time as we don't know exactly who will be available.
Alas, the pieces do start to come together if we assume everything will go as planned, which is never the case. Here is how the roster is shaking out with two more preseason games remaining.
Updated Chargers 53-man roster projection:
Quarterbacks (2): Justin Herbert, Trey Lance
This is the first time we are fully committing to the idea of the Chargers carrying just two quarterbacks to open up roster spaces elsewhere. Taylor Heinicke is falling behind Trey Lance in the QB2 battle and could even be dangled as trade bait to a desperate team.
Running backs (4): Omarion Hampton, Kimani Vidal, Nyheim Miller-Hines, Hassan Haskins
Jim Harbaugh has been noncommittal about whether or not Najee Harris will be ready for Week 1 of the 2025 season. While we have included Harris in our 53-man projections to this point, we now are assuming that won't be the case until we hear otherwise about his recovery.
Any potential decision to slow play Harris' return is made easier by the depth at the running back position. Not pictured is exciting UDFA Raheim Sanders, who capped off the Chargers' preseason win over the Saints with a touchdown. While Sanders is exciting, the Chargers may prefer keeping a veteran in Miller-Hines with Sanders going to the practice squad.
Fullback (1): Scott Matlock
The Scott Matlock experience is not ending any time soon, he's the Chargers fullback and will play some on defense as well.
Wide receivers (6): Ladd McConkey, Keenan Allen, Tre' Harris, Quentin Johnston, KeAndre Lambert-Smith, Derius Davis
No changes here and this is the likely group the Chargers will roll into the season with unless someone emerges and completely knocks the team's socks off.
That being said, the hype around KeAndre Lambert-Smith has started to die down a bit and it's probably for the best. As great as his long-term potential is, it's a dangerous game to expect too much out of a fifth-round pick in their rookie season. He will likely start the year as WR5 as Quentin Johnston is given one last chance to sink or swim ahead of him.
Tight ends (3): Will Dissly, Tyler Conklin, Oronde Gadsden II
Nothing new has developed at the tight end position, although it was nice to see Oronde Gadsden II get involved in the passing game against the Saints. This is the trio the Chargers will likely head into the season with while Tucker Fisk is the next man up.
Offensive line (9): Joe Alt, Zion Johnson, Bradley Bozeman, Mekhi Becton, Trey Pipkins, Jamaree Salyer, Andre James, Branson Taylor, David Sharpe
Rashawn Slater's injury has a massive impact on the Chargers' offensive line, both in the starting five and with the depth pieces behind that starting unit. Without Slater in the mix, this very well might be a bottom-10 offensive line in football that could bottom out even more.
New signing David Sharpe makes the cut here but the Chargers probably have another offensive line move to make at some point. Whether it be a trade or a waiver claim, they can probably do better than Sharpe. For now, he makes the cut out of necessity.
Interior defensive line (5): Teair Tart, Jamaree Caldwell, Otito Ogbonnia, Da'Shawn Hand, Justin Eboigbe
Third-round pick Jamaree Caldwell looks like the steal of the entire draft after a menacing effort against the Saints. With his every-down ability, it's impossible to deny him as one of the starters on the interior.
Recent signing Naquan Jones also gets the boot here as he is simply the odd man out. The Chargers didn't guarantee Jones much on his contract and he has been a relative nonfactor to this point.
Edge rusher (5): Khalil Mack, Tuli Tuipulotu, Bud Dupree, Caleb Murphy, Kyle Kennard
Caleb Murphy is just impossible to ignore at this point and he is the biggest change on this 53-man roster projection. Carrying five edge rushers is less common than carrying four, but the Chargers cannot deny one of their biggest camp and preseason standouts.
The team also isn't going to part ways with fourth-round pick Kyle Kennard, who still has a ton of potential. This is a stacked position group with a lot of depth.
Linebackers (5): Daiyan Henley, Denzel Perryman, Junior Colson, Troy Dye
Veteran special-teams ace Del'Shawn Phillips still hasn't appeared during training camp and we have to give him the same treatment as Najee Harris. With Phillips still on the PUP list with no real updates, the Chargers are essentially using the extra roster spot to add a fifth edge rusher.
With other special-teams aces and players in the secondary who can play in the box, the Chargers can afford to carry one less linebacker than normal.
Cornerbacks (6): Tarheeb Still, Cam Hart, Donte Jackson, Deane Leonard, Benjamin St-Juste, Nikko Reed
This position is in flux more than any other position on the roster. Several cornerbacks are currently dealing with some kind of injury, and if any are serious, this position group will look much different in Week 1 than it looks here.
Nikko Reed still gets the last spot after a strong camp and even better showing in the Hall of Fame Game. Eric Rogers is another undrafted free agent who stood out with an excellent game against the Saints, but he also suffered a scary injury that may have ended his roster hopes as soon as they got off the ground.
Safeties (5) Derwin James, Alohi Gilman, Elijah Molden, R.J. Mickens, Tony Jefferson
Derwin James plays nickel and Elijah Molden can line up anywhere in the secondary, so carrying an extra safety here actually helps the cornerback room. This might be the single best position room on the entire roster with one of the best in the sport leading the way and no real holes behind him.
Special teams (3): Cameron Dicker, J.K. Scott, Josh Harris
As we say in every 53-man roster projection, this is not going to change anytime soon for the Bolts.