Nadame Tucker keeps making life scarier for a pair of Chargers cut candidates

As the Los Angeles Chargers enter Week 3 of training camp, the time has come to start to sort out positional hierarchies and, ultimately, the final shape of the 53-man roster.

There are pieces who have likely already proved their fit. The Chargers' coaching staff has had nothing but praise, for example, for offensive lineman Branson Taylor as he's come into training camp with a new sort of intensity and physicality. KeAndre Lambert-Smith has done everything he can to prove he's worthy of a sixth roster spot in the wide receiver room. Both of those pieces had their doubters, and they've largely proved them wrong over the past couple of weeks.

But outside linebacker Nadame Tucker has hardly had any doubters since he was picked up as a UDFA this offseason by Los Angeles. He was one of the most productive pass rushers in college last season under O'Leary at Western Michigan, and he plays with the sort of intensity and athletic prowess that was sure to make him stand out in training camp.

Tucker appeared before the media today, and his comments seem to fit right in line with what we've come to expect of him by this point.

But the more Tucker continues to improve, locking down a spot on the 53-man roster behind Tuli Tuipulotu, Khalil Mack, and Akheem Mesidor, the more perilous the positions of both Kyle Kennard and Bud Dupree become. All three can't make the roster, and it seems as though the true battle might be crystallizing upon the second-year draft selection and the veteran defender.

Nadame Tucker is forcing Kyle Kennard and Bud Dupree into a high-stakes competition

We can't guarantee Tucker will make the roster at this point. But all signs are pointing in that direction.

Not only was he a favorite weapon of O'Leary during his lone season as a college play-caller—amassing 14.5 sacks and 21 tackles for loss across 13 games—but he's also carried that intensity and power into training camp and the preseason. In the Chargers' preseason opener against the Houston Texans, Tucker posted one pressure on just 12 pass rush snaps, per Pro Football Focus. Although he didn't have the most productive game (or the biggest sample size to work with), he still looked highly athletic and motivated during his first live reps in a Chargers uniform.

Los Angeles needs active and energetic depth behind Mack, Tuipulotu, and Mesidor. Tucker can easily provide that, even if he has work to do as a run defender.

That makes both Kennard and Dupree cut candidates as we creep closer to the Chargers' second preseason game.

Dupree was a valuable depth piece last season, but his production has waned during both of his seasons in Los Angeles. He posted just two sacks and nine solo tackles across 16 games in 2025, receiving a share of 41% of the Chargers' defensive snaps.

Kennard, who was a fourth round selection of the Chargers just last offseason, certainly has higher upside. But he's also much less proven as a run defender and an overall presence in the pass rush. He dealt with injuries that limited his effectiveness last season, but he was still ultimately a healthy scratch numerous times over the course of his rookie campaign. That's not a promising start to his career, and it's uncertain whether Los Angeles has seen the energy they want out of him this time around.

If Tucker weren't in the picture, there's likely a world where the Chargers would grant five roster spots to the OLB room and both Kennard and Dupree would make the cut as depth pieces. But the more Tucker draws the attention towards himself with his performance in team drills and the preseason, the scarier life gets for both Kennard and Dupree.

The Chargers have until Aug. 30 to make their final decision. But both Kennard and Dupree know they need to start fighting now if they want to still be on this roster in Week 1.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow