The LA Chargers play their first game under Jim Harbaugh on Saturday, although is comes in an unofficial capacity as the first week of the preseason. While the outcome of the game does not matter, Chargers fans will learn a lot about what this team looks like under Harbaugh.
Of course, the picture Chargers fans see will not be complete. The players who trot out in the preseason are not the same players who will mostly play in the regular season. In fact, many players who play against Seattle won't even be on the roster in Week 1.
However, some starters will play and fans will at least get a wholistic view of what the team looks like. As far as the players who are not suiting up, that list has been made official shortly before kickoff, courtesy of Daniel Popper of The Athletic.
Full list of Chargers players not playing in preseason Week 1:
Position | Player |
|---|---|
QB | Justin Herbert |
S | Derwin James |
EDGE | Joey Bosa |
EDGE | Khalil Mack |
RB | Gus Edwards |
RB | J.K. Dobbins |
WR | Joshua Palmer |
WR | Derius Davis |
OL | Jamaree Salyer |
OL | Bradley Bozeman |
FB | Ben Mason |
CB | Cam Hart |
LB | Junior Colson |
LB | Denzel Perryman |
This is a long list of impactful players who will are not suited up to play on Saturday but there are still a lot of must-see players who assumingly will get action. This is not Brandon Staley's Chargers where every single starter sits during the preseason.
Tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt are at least suited up for the game, although it remains unclear how much (if at all) the two tackles play. Fellow offensive linemen Trey Pipkins and Zion Johnson may also see some action as well.
At receiver, it will be compelling to see Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston and D.J. Chark. Each of those receivers have compelling storylines entering the season, as do the rookie receivers Cornelius Johnson and Brenden Rice behind them.
Kimani Vidal is the RB3 but he is likely going to get a bulk of the carries in this game and that is a great thing. Vidal is a real breakout candidate (who looks awfully similar to Austin Ekeler) and he may have a huge game against Seattle.
Defensively, the Chargers may still roll Tuli Tuipulotu and Bud Dupree out there for some snaps, as well as interior defensive linemen Morgan Fox and Otito Ogbonnia, among others. It will be nice to see where Daiyan Henley is at in year two and how the LB depth looks behind him.
In the secondary, the Chargers could give all three starters, Asante Samuel Jr, Kristian Fulton and Ja'Sir Taylor, snaps. Alohi Gilman may also see some snaps from the safety position.