The LA Chargers have officially completed their preseason side quest and up next is the 2024 regular season. Jim Harbaugh's first official game back in the NFL is on September 8 against the Las Vegas Raiders as the Chargers look to return to the postseason.
Before then, the Chargers have the difficult task of trimming the roster down to 53 players. There are several deserving players who are fighting for the same roster spot with only so many spaces available. Naturally, some talented players are going to be left out.
However, an NFL roster is not created equally so while there are areas of strength on the roster, there are also areas of deficiency. In a perfect world, the Chargers will be able to address these areas by utilizing other roster cuts throughout the league.
3 positions the Chargers must look to supplement during NFL cut day
1. Quarterback
This is the most obvious position on this list. The Chargers' backup quarterbacks really struggled during the preseason and while Justin Herbert appears to be out of the woods with his foot injury, it is still important to invest in the backup quarterback position if you have playoff aspirations.
Easton Stick will likely make the 53-man roster as the Chargers keep an eye out around the league for the quarterbacks who don't make their respective teams. With how bad Stick has been, there is not a very high bar for the Chargers to cross to bring in a backup who will be better.
Stick will more than likely stick around on the practice squad because of his close relationship with Herbert. But at this rate, it would be genuinely shocking if the Bolts didn't add quarterback help.
2. Tight end
Tight end was a weakness for the Chargers last season, was a weakness entering the offseason and is now still a weakness heading into the season. Granted, the team got better in the blocking department by adding a true blocking tight end in Will Dissly, but the depth behind him is concerning.
Hayden Hurst is a familiar name who has dealt with injury issues in the past and has averaged 23.4 receiving yards per game in the last three seasons. Donald Parham is a fan favorite but he struggles to block and didn't put together a strong preseason.
No other tight end on the roster reached up and grabbed the brass ring, leaving the Chargers with more questions than answers at tight end. If a better option becomes available after cut day the Chargers have to jump on it.
3. Linebacker
This is solely because of the uncertainty around Nick Niemann's health heading into the regular season. The top of the linebacker depth chart looks very promising as Denzel Perryman, Daiyan Henley and Junior Colson project to be a formidable trio for the Bolts.
Troy Dye is a solid special teams player and Niemann is meant to be the fifth linebacker. However, Niemann has not practiced since injuring himself. The Chargers have been rather tight-lipped about his status, so it is unclear how serious the injury is.
With no other internal options that really jump off the page, it would be smart for the Chargers to keep an eye out throughout the league for someone who can fill in and be a solid special teams player if Niemann has to be placed on the IR with an injury.