Three preseason games and an entire training camp period later, it's finally time for the Chargers to build their initial roster. By 3PM PT on Sunday, Joe Hortiz and Jim Harbaugh will have whittled the roster down to just 53 players. On Monday, the initial practice squad will be created for the players who clear waivers.
It's a quick turnaround after Thursday's game. But I think there are fewer roster spots truly up in the air this August compared to prior years. Let's get into it.
Alex Insdorf's final 2026 Chargers 53-man roster prediction before Sunday's cutdown
Specialists (3): Cameron Dicker*, JK Scott, Josh Harris
Cameron Dicker was injured in the teams' final preseason game. JK Scott became the starting kicker towards the end of the game as a result. HC Jim Harbaugh indicated that it's a minor injury, but it's worth monitoring.
JK Scott had a poor preseason, but they didn't bring in competition. Maybe that changes over the next month or so if he has some regular season shanks. But for now, he makes the initial 53-man roster.
QB (2): Justin Herbert, Trey Lance
It was a messy preseason for QB Trey Lance relative to his effort last year. His passer rating was down nearly 20 points compared to the 2025 preseason and he was much more erratic from down to down. It can be argued that DJ Uiagalelei had the better preseason in the "competition" between the two of them.
That being said, I still think Uiagalelei is stashed on the practice squad as the emergency third quarterback and they revisit potential backup status next year. Between these two players, I still lean towards the coaching staff trusting Lance's legs in a Shanahan scheme.
The bigger question is if there could be a trade on the horizon for a backup quarterback given the poor performance of Lance. It's hard to predict, but the Chargers did trade for Taylor Heinicke after the final Easton Stick preseason game of 2024. It's something I'm keeping my eye on, but Lance would make the roster between these two QBs currently.
RB (3): Omarion Hampton, Keaton Mitchell*, Kimani Vidal
As fun as it has been to watch the Chargers' preseason depth at the position show out, these were always the three players they were going with in the RB room. Greg Desrosiers Jr, Amar Johnson, and Jaret Patterson will be fun practice squad options for Los Angeles.
Kimani Vidal played six snaps on Thursday. I'd take that as a pretty big indicator that he was never really being competed with. Vidal is involved in special teams rotations for the team as a returner. He's still probably the best pass protector on the team until Omarion Hampton proves it while healthy.
The question here is Keaton Mitchell. I placed an asterisk by his name because he suffered a setback in practice. He did not play in the Bolts' preseason finale while Hampton did. The question is whether it's a minor setback or one that could require the use of short term IR. We really just don't know. If an IR placement were to happen, I think the Chargers could roll with Amar Johnson as RB3.
WR (6): Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, Tre' Harris, Brenen Thompson, Derius Davis, KeAndre Lambert-Smith
Derius Davis has basically been unchallenged as the Chargers' top returner this preseason. I'm fully expecting him to maintain both the the top kick return and punt return jobs for LA this season.
Heading into the preseason, there were questions I had about whether a Mike McDaniel offense would keep a sixth wideout. In three out of his four seasons on the initial roster in Miami, he kept less than six WRs. Heading into the preseason, that made me uncertain about KeAndre Lambert-Smith's spot. But I think KLS flashed enough as a receiver in camp and in the preseason game vs. Houston to claim a spot on the roster. Ryan Ficken has also praised his efforts on special teams.
TE/FB (4): Charlie Kolar, David Njoku, Oronde Gadsden II, Alec Ingold
Pretty cut and dry here. Most of the training camp debates have centered around playing time and snap count dynamics between Charlie Kolar, David Njoku, and Oronde Gadsden II. That exact ratio is probably still a bit up in the air, but these were always going to be your three TEs.
Alec Ingold replaces FB Scott Matlock from last year. Maybe there's a spot for Matlock or one of the other preseason TEs on the practice squad.
OL (9): Rashawn Slater, Kayode Awosika, Jake Slaughter, Cole Strange, Joe Alt, Trey Pipkins III, Travis Burke, Branson Taylor*, Jacob Spomer
This group obviously looks a bit different than what it would've been before the season-ending injury to Tyler Biadasz. Jake Slaughter slides into the top center spot. But the biggest initial roster beneficiary of the Biadasz injury may be Fresno State UDFA C Jacob Spomer. Perhaps the Chargers will eventually find a veteran center on the market-but for now, Spomer basically has to make the roster as the only true backup to Slaughter.
There's two questions for me in regards to the rest of the group. Branson Taylor has missed the last two weeks of the preseason as he deals with an undisclosed injury. As mentioned with Mitchell earlier, any of the players who have missed recent practices have at least some short term IR potential.
I debated going 10 OL here with either Trevor Penning or sixth-round pick Logan Taylor. But considering the tackle/guard versatility of both Pipkins and Branson Taylor, the Chargers seem fine with the group they have. Logan Taylor should make it back to the practice squad. Penning is a vested veteran and does not hit waivers if released.
EDGE (4): Khalil Mack, Tuli Tuipulotu, Akheem Mesidor, Bud Dupree
Coming into camp, there was at least some question about whether Bud Dupree would keep his roster spot. His camp and preseason have given him the inside track to fourth EDGE. I thought he was particularly impressive against San Francisco (two pressures on six pass rush snaps) relative to the other EDGEs competing for roster spots. The Chargers only played him five snaps this week against the Rams. He's a roster lock.
Then we get to whether there should be a fifth EDGE. On paper, Kyle Kennard has an argument given the fourth-round pick that was spent in 2025 to acquire him. But it was a disappointing training camp relative to expectations and he's now injured. He's a possible IR candidate after missing the Chargers' last two preseason games. Nadame Tucker had moments where he flashed as a pass rusher, but he's not ready to survive down to down as a true full-time rostered EDGE in the league. The waivers risk there is also low.
If there was to be a fifth EDGE, I think it would actually go to Andre Carter II. He played more on special teams last week than Tucker. In just two short weeks, his tape was simply more impressive than the other EDGEs competing for the fifth spot. But the Chargers should be safe to place him on the practice squad.
DT (5): Teair Tart, Dalvin Tomlinson, Jamaree Caldwell, Justin Eboigbe, Nick Barrett
There are very few Chargers roster bubble players who are more deserving on a merit basis this preseason than TeRah Edwards. He had eight pressures and seven defensive stops this preseason in PFF's tracking. It was a true joy every week to see him go crazy against opposing rushing attacks.
That being said, I do think the Chargers lean towards special teams here and choose more depth in the secondary as opposed to a sixth defensive tackle. Hopefully, Edwards makes it back to the practice squad.
LB (5): Daiyan Henley, Denzel Perryman, Troy Dye, Marlowe Wax, Del'Shawn Phillips
It was a much better preseason for Junior Colson relative to his 2025 performance. But he's one of the roster bubble guys that gets a little screwed by the positional numbers game here. Marlowe Wax continued to flash great tape this preseason. Him and 2025 second-team All-Pro Del'Shawn Phillips are Ryan Ficken's core special teamers along with Troy Dye.
Considering the improved tape from Colson, I wouldn't be surprised to see him either a) brought back on the practice squad (although waivers could be tricky) or b) brought up in trade talks. Unfortunately, the other linebackers just produce more physicality on defense and special teams more consistently than Colson. I wish they could keep a sixth linebacker in this scenario, but the utility of that seems less efficient.
CB (6): Tarheeb Still, Cam Hart, Donte Jackson, Nikko Reed, Avery Smith, Deane Leonard
The Chargers kept 12 DBs on the initial roster last year and I have them taking a similar approach this time around. There are four absolute locks here with Tarheeb Still, Cam Hart, Donte Jackson, and core special teamer Deane Leonard. Nikko Reed and Avery Smith are where it gets interesting as to whether they go with five non-Derwin corners or six.
But nearly half of the players lost by NFL teams on waiver claims last year were DBs. The Chargers experienced this themselves as they cut former 2025 draft pick Trikweze Bridges. He ended up being claimed by Dallas. To protect Reed and Smith from initial waivers, I think LA keeps both for now.
S (6): Derwin James Jr., Elijah Molden, Tony Jefferson, Genesis Smith, RJ Mickens, Kendall Williamson
Kendall Williamson is the special teams question mark here. But he's such an important part to Ryan Ficken's special teams unit that I think it gets him on here. Also, how much do they trust Genesis Smith or RJ Mickens to play on special teams relative to someone more established like Williamson?
Williamson is definitely in the 48th man-to true bubble category of the roster, but I think he makes it. It also wouldn't surprise me if he was still active on gamedays due to that special teams usage. It's more dicey than last offseason, but I have him making it.
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