Of the Los Angeles Chargers' 2026 class of UDFAs, there are two with clear paths toward making the roster.
Nadame Tucker still has a real chance to carve out a role in the edge rusher room, either taking on a role as a depth piece next to Kyle Kennard and Bud Dupree or displacing one of them through an impressive showing in training camp. Offensive tackle Isaiah World, meanwhile, already received a near-record guarantee on his UDFA contract, and he'll likely spend his rookie season rehabbing the torn ACL he suffered in last season's College Football Playoffs with Oregon.
That doesn't mean the rest of the UDFA class is bereft of talent, however. Running back Gregory Desrosiers, for example, possesses a strong skill-set as a downhill rusher and a pass protector. Unfortunately, with the Chargers' primary trio of running backs already set, Desrosiers only real path onto the roster is as a special-teams contributor.
It seems like that path, though, may already be blocked off to Desrosiers as well.
Gregory Desrosiers stands a slim chance of making the Chargers roster in 2026
Desrosiers was never ridiculously productive over the course of six-season college career. But in his final year with the University of Memphis, he flashed a serious aptitude both as a rusher and a pass-catcher. Across 10 games, he posted 99 attempts for 563 yards and seven touchdowns, tacking on 32 receptions for 228 yards.
On a team with a shallower backfield, Desrosiers could stand a real chance of carving out a role with an impressive showing in training camp. But with Omarion Hampton, Kimani Vidal, and Keaton Mitchell already in the fold, it seems like that path is blocked off to even returning running back Jaret Patterson, let alone a UDFA like Desrosiers.
Desorsiers' path to the roster, therefore, lies in his special-teams experience. Although he only took a combined six kick returns during his final two college seasons, he was the primary kick returner for the University of Massachusetts during his freshman and sophomore campaigns, posting a total of 60 kick returns for 1,196 yards between those two campaigns.
In Los Angeles' minicamp, it was reported that a slew of players took returns from Corey Dicker. A look at the full list reveals just how steep the path is for Desrosiers to win any sort of competition that could unfold.
Derius Davis, Keaton Mitchell, Omarion Hampton, Kimani Vidal, Devonte Ross, and JaQuae Jackson all took reps as kick returners during minicamp. This list also doesn't include rookie wide receiver Brenen Thompson, whose speed should make him a threat to enter the competition when he gets fully healthy.
Desrosiers, notably, wasn't among the players on this list. While his versatility could allow him to carve out a role on the Chargers' practice squad in 2026, it seems as though his fate in terms of the 53-man roster has already been sealed.
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