The Los Angeles Chargers enter Week 1 with plenty of noise around them, but not all of it is the good kind.
There’s been real optimism about the next chapter under Jim Harbaugh, especially with the AFC West looking open enough to invite some ambition. A lot of that buzz centers on the arrival of Mike McDaniel for Justin Herbert, and on paper the Chargers have at least tried to address the interior of the offensive line.
Still, the warning signs are hard to ignore. The offensive line in front of Herbert is already flashing a serious problem again, and injuries have started piling up before the season even gets going. Add in the usual concerns - more injuries, a demanding schedule, and a defensive coordinator change that can easily get overlooked - and it makes sense that some national voices are already bracing for a rough year.
Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton recently highlighted how often the Chargers become offseason favorites, and this year is no exception. He pointed to the McDaniel addition and the team’s attempts to patch up the interior offensive line, but still went as far as to project Los Angeles to miss the playoffs for the first time under Harbaugh.
A big part of that case is the new look on defense. Jesse Minter is out, and Chris O’Leary is back in a role he’s familiar with after previously coaching the defensive backs.
That switch comes with real uncertainty, especially when the schedule turns nasty. As Moton wrote: “Furthermore, the Chargers face a brutal stretch from Weeks 3 through 10: road games against the Buffalo Bills, Seattle Seahawks, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams and Baltimore Ravens, plus home matchups with the Denver Broncos and Houston Texans,” Moton wrote.
“They have a Week 7 bye during that span.”
There’s also the issue of how the defense holds up personnel-wise. The expectation is for continuity, but that’s easier said than done when Jesse Minter is gone, O’Leary is stepping in, and rookie Akheem Mesidor is being asked to make an immediate impact in the rotation after Odafe Oweh’s departure.
The offensive line may be the sharpest concern of all. Rashawn Slater already had what was described as an apparently minor setback this summer, Tyler Biadasz is out for the season, and the group around them still looks unsettled.
That leaves the Chargers preparing to start a rookie center with Jake Slaughter, while Cole Strange has underperformed at right guard. On the left side, the competition remains open between free-agent addition Kayode Awosika and swing tackle backup Trey Pipkins.
So the skepticism isn’t coming out of nowhere. The Chargers are working with two new coordinators, they’re carrying roughly $40 million in cap space while still facing major needs, and Harbaugh has yet to clear the playoff hump with a win.
None of that means the season is doomed. There’s still a path for this team to survive the schedule, reach the playoffs and finally break through.
But if someone wants to look at the roster, the injuries and the calendar and see trouble ahead, that argument is easy to make too.
In Other News...
Chargers Practice Squad Shuffle Brings In Some Very Familiar Names
The Chargers roster work for 2026 didnt stop at the 53-man deadline. After trimming down the active group, the team turned to the practice squad and added a mix of developmental depth and one especially familiar name, signing tight end Patrick Herbert, the younger brother of quarterback Justin Herbert, along with cornerback Kaiir Elam, wide receiver Theo Wease and defensive tackle Jordan Jefferson.
It also meant a few familiar faces moved out of the picture, with cornerback Isas Waxter, wide receiver Devonte Ross and defensive lineman Jahmeer Carter all released from the practice squad. For a Chargers team trying to keep as much quality depth around its quarterback as possible, the family connection attached to Herberts latest addition is the kind of detail that will keep getting attention as the week unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Add Another Mike McDaniel Connection Fans Should Keep An Eye On
After trimming to their Week 1 roster, the Chargers have added another familiar name to the mix by signing wide receiver Theo Wease Jr. to the practice squad. Wease comes in as an undrafted free agent from 2025 and gives Los Angeles another body in a receiver room that can never really have too much depth once the regular season starts.
Wease also brings a small but notable connection to Mike McDaniels orbit, having spent time with the Miami Dolphins under the offensive coordinator before landing in Los Angeles. He got into one game last season and found the end zone, a reminder that even a practice squad addition can carry a little upside if the right opening comes along. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Suddenly Have A Week 1 Problem At Linebacker
Denzel Perrymans season-opening trip to injured reserve leaves the Chargers with an early-season hole to sort out at linebacker, and it comes at a time when Jim Harbaugh is still trying to settle roles across the roster. Perryman will miss at least four games, and Harbaugh said the return timeline will hinge on how his rehab goes, which only adds another layer of uncertainty to a position group that now needs a starter by default.
Los Angeles does have options on the depth chart, with Troy Dye, DelShawn Phillips and Marlowe Wax all in the mix for snaps, but the team has not publicly settled on who will take over the job. For a defense that wants stability right away, the bigger issue may be how quickly someone can step in and look the part while Perryman works his way back. [Read more 🡒]