The Los Angeles Chargers have plenty of decisions to make this weekend— and each one will hold some weight.
There are plenty of cut candidates that have made their case for the roster, including UDFA cornerbacks Avery Smith and Rodney Shelley, special-teams safety Kendall Williamson, and even running backs Amar Johnson and Gregory Desrosiers.
But entering camp, one of the primary storylines rested in the outside linebacker room, and we still don't have a clear answer on how things will turn out there. Beyond Khalil Mack, Tuli Tuipulotu, and Akheem Mesidor, will the Chargers look to carry two extra edge rushers or just one? Is there room for either UDFA Nadame Tucker or second-year defender Kyle Kennard when the roster ultimately shakes out?
Right now, it seems as though Bud Dupree is a lock given his veteran experience and his run-defending abilities. But if it ultimately comes down to Kennard or Tucker, the case is much more complicated than it might seem on the surface.
Nadame Tucker has a case for the roster— even if he didn't have the most impressive preseason
There's two ways to view the Tucker situation as we rapidly approach the Aug. 30 roster deadline.
Tucker was one of the most productive pass rushers in college last season under Chris O'Leary at Western Michigan, posting 14.5 sacks, 21 tackles for loss, and 51 total pressures. He was a major weapon in O'Leary's blitz-heavy scheme, and he's the type of player whose intensity and constant energy flashes during preseason and training camp reps. With that in mind, he should have an edge over the unproductive Kennard, right?
The other perspective is rooted in his lack of run defending or tackling production in his three preseason appearances. Although he posted six pressures across 51 pass-rush snaps, he missed a pair of tackles in the final preseason matchup against the Los Angeles Rams and, per Pro Football Focus, graded at an abysmal 37.0 as a run defender over the course of the preseason.
With how tight the edges of this roster are—especially along the offensive line and certain portions of the defense—the Chargers can't afford to carry an extra outside linebacker simply because he has ties to O'Leary. If Tucker's production isn't enough to prove that he can immediately make an impact at the NFL level, many would argue he should be automatically destined for the practice squad.
The reality of Tucker's case likely lies somewhere in between those two polarities.
The Chargers need plenty of pass-rush depth heading into 2026, especially because O'Leary has made clear he'll prioritize versatility along the defensive line. Even if Tucker doesn't have a true skill set as a run defender yet, there could be third-down situations and clear blitz opportunities for O'Leary to carve out for the UDFA in his scheme.
Kennard, moreover, did not play in the Chargers' final two preseason games, and he wasn't all that active in the first one— posting just one pressure on 11 pass-rush snaps against the Houston Texans.
The difference is that the Chargers spent mid-round draft capital on Kennard just last season, and they may be more inclined to hold onto him if they still see long-term upside there. But Tucker, at the very least, has proved he has the work ethic and the intensity that tends to endear players to this coaching staff.
He's certainly not a lock to make the roster, but don't count him out until the final decisions come in on Sunday.
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