The Chargers' preseason didn't end on the greatest of notes with a sloppy 30-23 loss to the 49ers. Still, they had players separate themselves and give great individual performances in their final efforts. Several roster battles have gone down to the wire as LA's front office looks for clarity on the 53-man roster.
Five Chargers players stick out to me as the "on the bubble" names that the fanbase will be talking about between now and Tuesday.
3 clear offensive roster spots potentially in flux: Kimani Vidal, Tucker Fisk, David Sharpe
RB Kimani Vidal
Kimani Vidal did not play in Saturday's preseason finale. He left practice earlier this week with an undisclosed injury. Vidal spent the rest of the week at practice working off to the side with trainers.
With Hassan Haskins appearing to be safe, it felt like it was a battle between Vidal and Raheim Sanders for the final RB roster spot. The last three preseason games following Vidal's dynamic Hall of Fame game performance have definitely given a slight edge to Sanders.
Of course, the possibility that both Sanders and Vidal make the roster is still alive if Najee Harris is placed on NFI. Last night on the CBS Chargers broadcast, though, GM Joe Hortiz said he is "hopeful" Harris is back for Week 1 in Brazil.
If Harris is back by Week 1, Vidal's spot on the roster is in serious doubt. But Harris has not practiced in five weeks since the Chargers opened camp in the middle of July. Until the former Steelers RB gets back into individual or team drills, I'm not putting much stock into what Hortiz said on the broadcast. Without Harris on the roster, it's probably a 50-50 shot for Vidal to make it. It would just depend on how they debated the utility of keeping four running backs vs. keeping three on the initial roster.
TE Tucker Fisk
Scott Matlock did not play last night without any clear injury designation. His spot as the team's primary fullback appears safe. Also, clearly safe TEs on the roster in addition to Matlock at FB: Will Dissly, Tyler Conklin, and Oronde Gadsden II.
That leaves primary blocking TE Tucker Fisk on the cut bubble. There's a world where he could make the initial roster so the team does not risk him to the initial waiver claims. But I'm not seeing a long-term path to the Chargers keeping five TE/FBs while trying to be active on the waiver wire or the trade market. Initially, the spot for Fisk this year feels like it has to be the practice squad, assuming Matlock is safe.
OT David Sharpe
David Sharpe didn't have his best game last night. Considering he wouldn't be subject to waivers if the Chargers did cut him, I'm not really seeing the argument against cutting him. Sure, the Chargers will eventually need nine offensive linemen on the active roster. But again, that'll largely come through the waiver wire and being active on free agency, potential trade offers.
OC Greg Roman admitted at media availability this week that Sharpe needed to work his way back into football shape. With the depth the Chargers need to find a way to carry throughout the rest of the roster, Sharpe doesn't seem like a must-keep at this time.
RELATED: Chargers GM offers up new injury update on running back Najee Harris
LB Marlowe Wax
Marlowe Wax finished his preseason on Saturday about as well as he possibly could. He had six tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, one pass deflection, and two stuffs on the stat sheet. He took care of everything that was in his control.
Now it comes down to the number crunch on the Chargers' roster. Of note here is that Junior Colson is dealing with an injury. Unlike Vidal, Colson was not on the practice field at all after suffering the injury. HC Jim Harbaugh would not provide the media information on whether it was a reaggravation of his Hall of Fame Game injury when asked.
If the Chargers keep five linebackers with Colson IR'd before Tuesday's final roster cutdown, Wax would be a candidate to make the roster. However, they could also go with four linebackers since Troy Dye and Del'Shawn Phillips would handle the bulk of the special teams work. Wax did everything he needed to this preseason; now it's simply a matter of how scared the Chargers are of the Syracuse product potentially hitting the waiver wire.
CB Nikko Reed
Perhaps it wasn't quite as impressive as Wax's hair-on-fire performance, but Nikko Reed also stated his case for the 53-man roster in the preseason finale. He was constantly near the ball and came away with two tackles, a pass breakup, and a fumble recovery. Ever since his interception in July's Hall of Fame Game, he has built the strongest merit-based case for making the 53-man roster amongst the UDFAs.
Like Wax, Reed's presence on the 53-man roster will be a number crunch game. For the time being, he will probably make the initial roster to avoid waivers. But keeping Ja'Sir Taylor, Tony Jefferson, R.J. Mickens, and Reed would mean 11 DBs. That could be a very temporary thing for the Chargers as they restructure their roster around waiver claims.