There are plenty of players for the Los Angeles Chargers facing some degree of pressure in their final preseason matchup on Thursday against the Los Angeles Rams.
With training camp behind us, this will be many players' chance to prove they're worthy of a 53-man roster spot. Cuts will be made on Aug. 30., and the performances in this final matchup will certainly play a part in the ultimate decisions of the coaching staff.
With the injury to Tyler Biadasz, though, the path to a roster spot has suddenly become much clearer for UDFA center Jacob Spomer than it was just a couple of weeks ago. Although the Chargers still have 14 offensive linemen competing for nine or 10 roster spots, Spomer has been one of the most consistent centers in the league over his pair of preseason appearances. While Cole Strange has the flexibility to play center, it's highly unlikely that Los Angeles will be willing to bump him off his starting right guard spot if Jake Slaughter suffers an injury.
That leaves a clear case to be made for Spomer to make the final 53-man roster. If he's able to put up another strong performance when the starters exit the game against the Rams on Thursday, Spomer may be able to confirm that decision well before the cuts are ultimately made over the weekend.
Jacob Spomer is now a clear candidate for the Chargers' 53-man roster
Coming into camp, it was hard to see a path for either Spomer or last year's practice-squad center Josh Kaltenberger to carve out a path to the roster. With the flexibility they had at the center position, Los Angeles seemed more likely to dole out roster spots to more versatile and flexible pieces like Branson and Logan Taylor than they were to dedicate one to a true backup center.
But the injury to Biadasz has clearly changed the landscape there, and Spomer has justified his consideration for the roster even apart from the depth-chart shakeup that necessitated.
Spomer hasn't allowed a single pressure across two preseason games and 61 pass-blocking snaps and, more importantly, has looked fluid and athletic in the run game. Although he's on the smaller side, especially compared to the staunch Kaltenberger, he has the skill set that Mike McDaniel has consistently sought out in his additions along the offensive line.
Spomer has also taken second and third-team center reps for much of camp, meaning that if there was ever going to be a roster spot for a backup center, it was likely his to claim.
Of course, there are other considerations here. Although Branson Taylor hasn't practiced since he went down with an apparent upper-body injury in the matchup against the 49ers, he impressed the coaching staff with his athleticism and intensity in the early portions of camp. Sixth-round selection Logan Taylor is also a real candidate for a roster spot considering the improvement he's shown during his reps at left and right tackle over the course of the preseason.
But if Spomer is able to replicate his performance from the last two preseason matchups agains the Rams, it will be difficult to doubt his status as a roster lock for Los Angeles as we steadily approach the Aug. 30 deadline.
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