The Chargers head into 2026 with the kind of buzz that brings real pressure with it. Justin Herbert, Mike McDaniel, Jim Harbaugh and Derwin James Jr. are among the names drawing plenty of attention, and Los Angeles believes it has put together a roster capable of taking another step.
There’s a clear case for optimism. The Chargers have stacked back-to-back regular-season wins and reached the playoffs, and the offseason has largely gone the way they wanted. Still, every season comes with its own traps, and if this one goes sideways, there are a few obvious places where it could start to unravel.
The biggest concern sits right up front. The offensive line held together last year until the playoffs, even with Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater out, but that doesn’t mean it’s a unit anyone should feel great about betting on again.
If injuries hit that group, or if the line simply underperforms, Los Angeles could be in trouble fast. The Chargers already enter the year with questions there, and those questions get louder if the protection breaks down.
Then there’s the division. The Chargers can absolutely chase their first AFC West title since 2009, but that’s no easy climb with the Broncos and Chiefs standing in the way.
Kansas City had owned the division for nine straight seasons before that run ended, so they’re not a team anybody can dismiss. Denver also has a chance to ride its own momentum into 2026.
If the Chargers don’t handle those four division games, the playoff picture gets a lot murkier.
The schedule doesn’t do them many favors either. Los Angeles has the ninth-toughest slate in the league, and Weeks 3 through 10 look especially brutal.
That stretch includes games against the Rams, Ravens, Chiefs, Broncos, Texans, Bills and Seahawks. If the Chargers stumble there, the damage could be enough to derail the season before it settles in.
One more pressure point: the defense is getting a new voice. O'Leary is set for his first season calling the plays after replacing Jesse Minter. He’s expected to run a scheme similar to Minter’s, but if the unit isn’t ready to carry its share early - or if it slips backward - that puts the Chargers in a tough spot.
In Other News...
Chargers Havent Settled Tuli Tuipulotu Situation As Opener Nears
With the 2026 opener against the Cardinals drawing closer, the Chargers still have a few important business items hanging over the roster. The starting left guard job remains unsettled, the fourth cornerback spot is still open, and now edge rusher Tuli Tuipulotu is another key piece without long-term clarity as the team heads into the final stretch of camp.
Tuipulotu is set to play this season on the last year of his rookie contract, and talks between his camp and the Chargers have yet to produce an extension. Recent market moves and comparisons to other edge rushers have helped shape the conversation, but for now the sides remain apart, leaving one more situation the Chargers will have to manage as the regular season approaches. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers May Have A Rare Christian Gonzalez Opening For The Wrong Reasons
Christian Gonzalez has been one of the more interesting names to follow around the league this preseason, not because of anything he has done on the field, but because of where things stand off it. The Pro Bowl cornerback and the Patriots have been working through extension talks for weeks, and while other top corners around the league are getting deals done, Gonzalez still has not locked in a new contract.
For the Chargers, the intrigue comes with a familiar twist: a possible opening for a player they know well, even if the path back to Los Angeles looks slim. Talk of a trade has surfaced, but the timing is awkward and the contract situation is still unresolved, leaving this more as a reminder of what might have been than a realistic roster move. Still, with the season opener approaching and negotiations ongoing, Gonzalez remains one of the more notable names to watch. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers See A New Advantage In How Rookies Are Arriving
The Chargers have spent enough time around rookie arrivals to know the adjustment is rarely just about football. Defensive coordinator Chris OLeary pointed to the way NIL has changed the transition for players like Akheem Mesidor, saying it has helped young pros come in with a better sense of professionalism and how to handle the demands of the league. For a team trying to blend new pieces into the defense, that kind of readiness can matter as much as raw talent.
Across the AFC West, the same theme keeps surfacing in different forms. Chiefs rookie receiver Cyrus Allen is still working to slow his thought process and absorb multiple positions, while Andy Reid said he has made progress, and Raiders general manager John Spytek described kicker Kansei Matsuzawa as a practice-squad developmental piece after strong work behind the scenes. For the Chargers, the larger takeaway is clear: rookies are arriving with different paths, but the teams best positioned to benefit may be the ones that know how to build on what these players already learned before they ever got to camp. [Read more 🡒]