The Chargers head into Week 1 against the Cardinals with a lineup that looks familiar in some spots and completely rebuilt in others. The biggest change is up front on offense, where Los Angeles is rolling out a mostly new offensive line while also dealing with a few preseason injuries that could shape how the first game unfolds.
At quarterback, nothing changes: Justin Herbert is still the guy. He’ll be handing the ball to Omarion Hampton, with Alec Ingold set to handle the fullback role after signing on as a free agent. Ingold barely showed up in the preseason - just three snaps total - but the Chargers expect him to be much more involved once the games count.
The pass-catching group also has some fresh pieces. Charlie Kolar is slated to open the year as a top tight end after spending the early part of his career buried in the Ravens’ crowded tight end room.
Kolar came into the league with plenty of receiving hype out of Iowa State in the 2022 draft class, but he’s become known more for his blocking. How the Chargers and offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel use him will be one of the more interesting things to watch.
The real spotlight, though, is on the interior offensive line. That group has been turned over almost entirely, and rookie Jake Slaughter is being thrown right into the fire at center after the season-ending injury to Tyler Biadasz.
Earlier in the week, Jim Harbaugh finally settled the long-running left guard battle by naming a starter, and Kayode Awosika gets the nod there. Cole Strange is at right guard, with Rashawn Slater at left tackle and Joe Alt on the right side.
Here’s how the Chargers are expected to line up on offense against Arizona:
Quarterback: Justin Herbert
Running back: Omarion Hampton
Fullback: Alec Ingold*
Tight end: Charlie Kolar*
Wide receiver: Ladd McConkey
Wide receiver: Quentin Johnston
Left tackle: Rashawn Slater
Left guard: Kayode Awosika*
Center: Jake Slaughter (R)*
Right guard: Cole Strange*
Right tackle: Joe Alt*
- Denotes new starter from 2025 lineup
Defensively, the Chargers are much closer to last season’s look, though the rotation should still be heavy. Khalil Mack and Tuli Tuipulotu are the edge rushers, Teair Tart and Dalvin Tomlinson or Jamaree Caldwell are in the middle, and Daiyan Henley and Del’Shawn Phillips are at linebacker. Derwin James Jr. is the nickelback, with Elijah Molden and RJ Mickens at safety and Donte Jackson and Cam Hart at corner.
That said, there are still a few moving parts. The Cardinals, with tight end Trey McBride, figure to push the Chargers into plenty of nickel looks from Chris O’Leary’s defense. Tuipulotu is dealing with a hip injury, so he may be out there to start but not for a full workload, with rookie Akeem Mesidor ready to take on extra snaps if needed.
Linebacker is another spot worth watching. Denzel Perryman is on injured reserve to start the year, which opens the door for second-year linebacker Marlowe Wax to get a bigger opportunity opposite Henley.
The biggest unknown may be at outside corner. The Chargers leaned on a heavy rotation there last season, but O’Leary has suggested that may not be the plan right away.
Hart has been the healthiest corner all offseason and through the preseason, while Tarheeb Still missed more than a week of practice. If O’Leary wants to blitz more often, Hart’s press-man ability could become a major asset.
However the staff chooses to handle that spot, the cornerback rotation is one of the most intriguing parts of this matchup heading into Sunday.
In Other News...
Chargers Rookie Jake Slaughter Faces An Early Test That Could Matter Fast
Jake Slaughter has already turned heads in training camp and the preseason, and the Chargers have taken notice of how quickly the rookie center has settled into his role. Offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel praised the way Slaughter handles pressure and the mental side of playing center, where the job is as much about directing the offensive line as it is about winning individual reps.
Now comes the first real measuring stick. Slaughter is lined up to make his first regular-season start against the Cardinals, and the early read on him will matter fast for a Chargers offense that needs stability in the middle. How he handles the first wave of adversity could say plenty about how ready he is for the long haul. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Face An Early Oronde Gadsden Question Fans Will Watch Closely
The Chargers first unofficial depth chart ahead of the season opener offered an early glimpse at how the tight end room may be sorted, with Charlie Kolar and David Njoku listed ahead of Oronde Gadsden. For a team trying to settle roles before Week 1, it is the kind of detail that does not settle anything by itself, but it does hint at where the early pecking order stands.
Gadsden is still in position to matter, even if he is not near the top of the list right now. The bigger question for the Chargers is how often they find ways to use him in specific offensive packages, because an unofficial depth chart can point in a direction without locking in the season-long plan. [Read more 🡒]
Jim Harbaugh Faces A Chargers Pattern Fans Know Too Well
Jim Harbaugh is heading into his third season with the Chargers, and that alone gives this year a different feel in Los Angeles. Recent Chargers coaches have often run into trouble at this stage, which is part of what makes the current moment feel familiar even with a new leadership group in place. General manager Joe Hortiz has pointed to Harbaughs deeper NFL background as a reason to believe this version of the staff is built differently than the ones that came before it.
The Chargers are also making a notable change on offense by bringing in Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator, with the hope of getting more out of Justin Herbert. For a team that has seen too many promising starts drift into familiar third-year problems, the pressure is less about proving the talent is there and more about showing this regime can sustain it. Harbaughs track record gives the Chargers a sturdier baseline than theyve had in the past, but the real test is still ahead. [Read more 🡒]