Chargers 53-man roster: 45 locks after first preseason game

The Chargers have completed their first preseason game, defeating the Texans 27-7 on Thursday evening. With a number of players sitting out for rest and a handful flashing in Houston this week, most of LA’s 53-man roster is actually already set.

Let’s go through who on the Chargers roster is a lock to be on the team in Week 1 when the Bolts face the Cardinals .

Quarterback: Justin Herbert (1)

Before Thursday, backup quarterback Trey Lance would have joined Herbert on this list, and maybe he should still be on here. But Lance was up and down in his half plus one drive against Houston, opening up just enough room in the QB2 competition for DJ Uiagalelei to overtake him. It’s also possible the Chargers will look externally for their backup quarterback, as they did when they traded for Taylor Heinicke at the cut deadline in 2024. While Lance probably still has the inside track, it’s not as easy to guarantee his place on the team as it was previously.

Running Back: Omarion Hampton, Keaton Mitchell, Alec Ingold (FB), Kimani Vidal (4)

Hampton, Mitchell, and Ingold all sat out Thursday’s game, which was likely an expected outcome for Hampton - the Chargers presumed RB1 - and Ingold - who offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel brought from Miami. Mitchell’s rest day is notable, however, as it likely means he’s in the lead for RB2 duties as of right now. Vidal started on Thursday but didn’t play a ton, and there’s a clear tier break between him and Jaret Patterson or Amar Johnson, so he’s still a lock for the roster after leading the Chargers in rushing last season.

Wide Receiver: Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, Tre’ Harris, Brenen Thompson (4)

We’re not including KeAndre Lambert-Smith and Derius Davis here, who are the next two wide receivers on the depth chart and the only other ones with a realistic chance of making the roster. Lambert-Smith had a quiet start to camp but led all receivers with 4 receptions and was second among all receivers with 58 yards on Thursday, bolstering his case to make the 53. Davis did not contribute on offense, but he appears to still have the inside track to win the punt returner job, which could push Lambert-Smith off the roster if the Chargers limit themselves to 5 on the final roster. The top four here are clear, however, and all should be expected to carry a significant load on offense.

Tight End: Charlie Kolar, David Njoku, Oronde Gadsden II (3)

This room is essentially solidified, even if Gadsden played the first quarter on Thursday. LA gave Kolar a hefty contract in free agency and seem to think they’ll get commensurate value from the veteran Njoku in addition to Gadsden, who burst on the scene as a fifth-round rookie last season. After Gadsden on the depth chart are Scott Matlock, who the team is now experimenting with at offensive tackle, and H-back Johnny Pascuzzi, a rookie undrafted free agent.

Offensive Line: Rashawn Slater, Joe Alt, Tyler Biadasz, Cole Strange, Kayode Awosika, Jake Slaughter, Trey Pipkins III, Travis Burke (8)

No explanation necessary for Slater, Alt, or Biadasz, who will anchor the line this season. Strange got a modest deal in free agency but has taken essentially all of the first-team reps at right guard, so no surprise there either. Left guard is the unsettled spot, with Awosika, Slaughter, Pipkins, Trevor Penning, and Branson Taylor still in the mix to start. One of those players won’t make the roster at all with how the numbers work out, but that obviously won’t be Slaughter - the team’s second-round pick this April - and likely won’t be Pipkins, who will be the swing tackle if not the starting left guard. Burke is also a lock as a rookie fourth-rounder who acquitted himself well at tackle on Thursday. Awosika played two drives on Thursday, signaling that he leads in the left guard competition and will make the roster even if someone else winds up overtaking them. That leaves Penning and Taylor to compete with rookie sixth-rounders Logan Taylor and Alex Harkey for one or two spots to fill out the group.

Defensive Line: Teair Tart, Dalvin Tomlinson, Jamaree Caldwell, Justin Eboigbe, Nick Barrett (5)

Another group that’s basically set here, given that Tart, Caldwell, and Eboigbe all contributed for the Chargers last season and Tomlinson signed on as a veteran free agent to play nose tackle. Barrett’s selection in the fifth round finished the room up in April, but TeRah Edwards, Jahmeer Carter, and Jacobian Guillory all flashed on Thursday and will be in a heated competition for spots on the practice squad.

EDGE: Khalil Mack, Tuli Tuipulotu, Akheem Mesidor, Bud Dupree (4)

Mack, Tuipulotu, and Mesidor have been locks all offseason, but the fact that Dupree got a rest day on Thursday solidified that he’s not going anywhere either despite his struggles as a rusher last season. The Chargers seem to like what they get from the veteran as a run defender last season and may just lessen his pass-rushing role with Mesidor now in the fold. The real question here is if LA keeps a fifth edge rusher and if so, who that player is. Neither 2025 fourth-rounder Kyle Kennard nor undrafted rookie Nadame Tucker were particularly impactful on Thursday after entering as the two favorites to earn that additional spot.

Linebacker: Daiyan Henley, Denzel Perryman, Troy Dye, Del’Shawn Phillips (4)

Henley and Perryman got the night off on Thursday, as expected with that duo expected to be stalwarts on the Chargers defense come Week 1. Dye and Phillips were the starting duo on Thursday and both have core four special teams value, so they’re both going to be on the roster as well. (Dye has also been a serviceable third linebacker the past couple of seasons.) The assumption is that LA will keep 5, however, which leaves a battle between 2025 undrafted free agent Marlowe Wax and 2024 third-rounder Junior Colson, who were the duo on Thursday after Dye and Phillips exited. Wax took the green dot as the defensive signal-caller, which could signal that...

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