LA Chargers training camp has officially been underway for over a week and there is already so much to take away from the team. While the Chargers have not even suited up for a preseason game yet, the roster and identity of the team are starting to take shape.
For some players, this is great as they are climbing up the depth chart ready to make a difference in 2024. Other players, though, are seeing the opposite effect. Training camp has put their position on the Chargers' depth chart in question.
As great as it is to focus on just the former, it is also important to focus on the latter. Let's dive into the Chargers who have seen themselves fall on the depth chart.
3 Chargers tumbling down the depth chart:
JT Woods - Safety
JT Woods is entering his third season in the NFL after being selected in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Chargers. The selection was odd at the time as former head coach Brandon Staley and GM Tom Telesco were banking on developing Woods with his impressive athletic traits.
Fast forward two years after drafting Woods and neither man is with the Chargers and Woods has not developed much at all. With the old regime out of town, there is no existing strings to the draft that will keep Woods around if he is not producing.
Veteran Tony Jefferson and special teams standout AJ Finley have made the most noise during training camp thus far, sending Woods further down into cut territory.
Ben Mason - Fullback
After not having a fullback at all last season the new regime in Los Angeles signed former Ravens fullback Ben Mason over the offseason. Mason's spot on the roster was seemingly guaranteed in a run-heavy offense but that no longer seems to be the case after the start of training camp.
The main culprit behind Mason's plummet down the depth chart is surprising: offensive lineman Jordan McFadden. McFadden has gotten snaps as a fullback, tight end and even ran some drills as an offensive weapon out wide.
It is clear that McFadden might be the go-to weapon for gadget plays near the endzone in heavy formation but he also could shadow as a fullback in certain formations. Using a depth offensive lineman to do this saves a roster spot and hurts Mason's roster chances.
Quentin Johnston - Wide receiver
Chargers training camp has been a mixed bag for second-year wideout Quentin Johnston. It started with his head coach singing his praises and making it seem like the former TCU receiver was going to have a breakout season. Then it was followed by drops, drops, and more drops.
While Johnston may be progressing in other areas, he will always fail to carve out a consistent role on the Chargers if he is dealing with drop issues. It does not matter how someone's release package is or how good their route running is. If they are dropping the football, they won't play.
That is not to say it has reached the point where Johnston won't play for the Chargers in 2024. However, his spot as a starter is definitely in jeopardy with DJ Chark impressing thus far in camp. As it stands right now, Johnston might be the de facto WR4 despite being the WR2 heading into the 2024 NFL Draft.