Mike McDaniel provides an intriguing glimpse at the shape of Chargers' LG competition

As the Los Angeles Chargers round into Week 3 of training camp, the competition for the starting left guard spot is still at the top of everyone's minds.

Jake Slaughter started to gain some momentum near the end of Week 1, and he parlayed that into a strong performance in the Chargers' preseason opener against the Houston Texans. But that doesn't mean he's claimed the job just yet.

Mike McDaniel, in his press availability after Los Angeles' penultimate practice before their preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers, teased out the shape of the competition. According to the new offensive coordinator, there are five guards still left in the battle, but there are three who McDaniel would "lose money if he bet against [them]."

For the most part, this isn't a major change in the shape of the battle as we've known it. But as we wrap up practice eight out of the 10 that Jim Harbaugh specified would be used to determine the winner of the competition, the Chargers' coaching staff almost certainly has a better idea of who they believe has a true chance at the job.

Perhaps their preseason Week 2 matchup will be the final determinant.

The Chargers seem to be approaching the end of their battle for the starting LG spot

Among the three frontrunners that McDaniel identified, it's easy to assume the names of two members of that group—Jake Slaughter and Kayode Awosika.

Awosika took the bulk of the first-team reps through the first two weeks of training camp, and even as Slaughter has found his footing, he's continued to share those opportunities with the rookie. He started the 11-on-11 period at left guard in each of Los Angeles' past two practices before Slaughter eventually rotated in. Awosika doesn't have extensive starting experience—having played the first snap of just 11 games over the past four seasons with the Detroit Lions—but he does have NFL experience. That could make a difference.

Slaughter, meanwhile, looked like a changed man in his first live reps in a Chargers uniform. He faced off primarily against DTs Kayden McDonald and Dominic Bailey, and he held his own rep after rep. He allowed just one pressure on 30 pass-blocking snaps, and he looked athletic and powerful working into the second level in the run game.

The third frontrunner is unclear, but I'd hazard a guess and say that, at this point, it's Branson Taylor. Although Taylor only saw the field for one game during his rookie campaign, the Chargers' coaching staff has raved about his offseason transformation. He looks much more staunch and athletic this time around, and he has a chance to be an important depth piece for Los Angeles this season.

According to McDaniel, all three of these players are still strongly in the mix to win the job.

The other two must be Trevor Penning and Trey Pipkins III, although both have clearly fallen behind in the competition. Penning has largely been taking second and third-team reps at guard and tackle, while Pipkins has mostly slid back over to first-team tackle reps in the absence of Rashawn Slater. It was always a long shot for either of these pieces to win the job, but it seems as though they're out of the competition for now.

Expect all three of Awosika, Slaughter, and Taylor to see extensive reps against San Francisco as Los Angeles creeps closer to their decision.

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