The LA Chargers have to trim the roster down to 53 players by Tuesday, giving general manager Tom Telesco and head coach Brandon Staley several tough decisions to make about the personnel that they will carry forth for the 2021 season.
There are multiple important questions to ask about the Chargers cuts. Will the team keep two quarterbacks or three? Will Trey Pipkins survive the roster cuts? Could he be replaced by a free agent? Who wins the kicking battle?
We have already supplied our best prediction for the 53-man roster. Knowing the Chargers and the nature of the NFL, there are bound to be some surprises for the final roster.
LA Chargers cuts tracker for the 2021 roster:
The Chargers got going early on Monday, waiving nine players and waived/injured two other players. After this slew of moves, the LA Chargers roster stands at 69 total players.
#Chargers announced following roster moves:
— Daniel Popper (@danielrpopper) August 30, 2021
Waived: DB Donte Vaughn, EDGE Davin Bellamy, TE Matt Sokol, LB Nate Evans, OT Darius Harper, WR John Hurst, EDGE Jessie Lemonier, CB KJ Sails, DL Willie Yarbary
Waived/injured: LS Cole Mazza, OL Tyree St. Louis
Update (9:30 am): Per Daniel Popper of The Athletic, the LA Chargers waived Hunter Kampmoyer, bringing the number of tight ends on the roster to four. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported shortly after that the team released Emeke Egbule as well. The roster is down to 67.
Update (10:15 am): Per Fernando Ramirez of Sports Illustrated, the LA Chargers waived defensive lineman Joe Gaziano.
Update (10:26 am): Per Popper, the LA Chargers are waiving cornerback John Brannon, who had an interception in the preseason game vs. the Rams. Gilbert Manzano also reported that the team waived running back Darius Bradwell and wide receiver Michael Bandy. The roster is at 63 players.
Update (11:34 am): In perhaps the biggest roster cut that the Chargers have made, per Pelissero, the Bolts have waived kicker Michael Badgley. Tristan Vizcaino won the kicking job. The roster is down to 62.
Update (12:13 pm): In the most shocking roster cut made thus far, per Popper, the LA Chargers have waived wide receiver Tyron Johnson. The team is also waiving defensive tackle Breiden Fehoko. The roster now stands at 60 players.
Update (12:36 pm): Per Popper, the LA Chargers are waiving defensive tackle Cortez Broughton, bringing the roster down to 59 players.
Update (1:15 pm): The LA Chargers released the final 53-man roster. The six new cuts that were not previously announced are Joe Reed, Jason Moore, Ben DeLuca, Cole Christiansen, Nate Gilliam and Ryan Hunter.
The complete LA Chargers 53-man roster is below:
Current LA Chargers roster:
Quarterbacks (3): Justin Herbert, Chase Daniel, Easton Stick
Running backs (4): Austin Ekeler, Justin Jackson, Joshua Kelley, Larry Rountree
Fullbacks (1): Gabe Nabers
Wide receivers (5): Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Jalen Guyton, Joshua Palmer, K.J. Hill
Tight ends (4): Jared Cook, Donald Parham, Tre' McKitty, Stephen Anderson
Offensive tackles (4): Rashawn Slater, Bryan Bulaga, Storm Norton, Trey Pipkins
Interior offensive linemen (5): Corey Linsley, Matt Feiler, Oday Aboushi, Brenden Jaimes, Scott Quessenberry
Interior defensive line (5): Linval Joseph, Jerry Tillery, Justin Jones, Christian Covington, Forrest Merrill
Edge rushers (4): Joey Bosa, Kyler Fackrell, Uchenna Nwosu, Chris Rumph
Linebackers (5): Kenneth Murray, Drue Tranquill, Kyzir White, Nick Niemann, Amen Ogbongbemiga
Cornerbacks (6): Michael Davis, Asante Samuel Jr., Chris Harris Jr., Brandon Facyson, Tevaughn Campbell, Kemon Hall
Safeties (4): Derwin James, Nasir Adderley, Alohi Gilman, Mark Webb
Special teams (3): Tristan Vizcaino, Matt Overton, Ty Long