The Chargers walked into their preseason opener against the Texans with a very different look up front, and the biggest takeaway was simple: this line has real depth.
Los Angeles spent the game sorting through pieces, especially at left guard, where the competition was on full display. For the first two offensive series, the Chargers put all three contenders on the field together - Branson Taylor at left guard, Jake Slaughter at center and Kayode Awosika at right guard - and the early pecking order started to take shape from there.
Awosika was the first of the three to come off the field, and that early exit stood out. Through those opening series, he looked like the most complete of the bunch. He tracked defenders to the second level with control, handled reach and seal blocks cleanly and gave the offense the kind of steady, experienced work teams love to lean on.
Slaughter, meanwhile, made a strong first impression. He played with speed off the snap and showed the kind of football IQ that jumps out quickly, especially when he was sorting out twists and stunts and using his lateral quickness to cut off loopers.
There were rookie hiccups, too. He missed some targets at the second level, and he ended up on the ground more than once.
His inability to drive defensive linemen off their spot also showed up near the goal line. Even so, he looked like he belonged.
Taylor brought a different kind of presence. Among the three left guard candidates, he is the most physically imposing, and that showed on tape.
He’s a big, forceful blocker who can clear space in the run game, even if he doesn’t move as easily laterally at the second level. His size, length and strength carried over into pass protection as well, where he showed a strong anchor at both guard and tackle.
The Chargers have said they want to name a starter around the second preseason game next week, and that timeline makes the coming joint practice with the 49ers on Tuesday a key moment before the teams meet Thursday. If the first game was any indication, Awosika may still be sitting in front of the others.
There were other encouraging signs beyond the left guard fight. The tackle group, which was hit hard in 2025, got a strong showing from Travis Burke.
The Chargers drafted Burke out of Memphis with their second pick in the fourth round, and he looked far more ready than expected in his preseason debut. He’s been a regular after practice working with veterans like Rashawn Slater and Khalil Mack, and that work showed against Houston.
Undrafted rookie Jacob Spomer also turned heads. A standout at Fresno State, he fits Mike McDaniel’s offense well, and that was evident once he replaced Slaughter at center and settled into the game.
He came off the ball quickly, played with leverage and showed good awareness. His size may limit how many different schemes he can handle, and a spot on the 53-man roster will be tough to win, but he looks like a strong practice squad candidate unless another team claims him on waivers.
That center work matters because it feeds into the broader picture: after years of uncertainty there, the Chargers suddenly seem to have three capable options.
Just as important, the communication issues that have haunted this unit didn’t show up against Houston. No offensive line combination looked out of sync, and when rookies like Alex Harkey and Logan Taylor entered the game, the transition was smooth. That kind of clean operation is a big shift for a team that watched protection breakdowns put Justin Herbert in danger throughout 2025.
It was only one preseason game, and the starters still haven’t taken the field in full. Even so, the signs were hard to miss. The Chargers looked organized, better coached and far deeper across the offensive line, with the work from OTAs and camp - firing off the ball and getting to the line quickly - showing up the way the staff hoped it would.
In Other News...
Amar Johnson Just Turned Up The Heat In The Chargers Backfield
Amar Johnson spent the preseason game against Houston showing why the Chargers backfield is starting to feel crowded in a hurry. He handled six carries for 17 yards and added two catches for 68 yards, flashing the kind of versatility that can make a young running back stand out when roster spots are at a premium.
Johnson also gave Los Angeles a look at what he can do as a receiver, which matters in a room that already includes Omarion Hampton, Keaton Mitchell, Kimani Vidal, Greg DeRosiers and Jared Patterson. The Chargers are sorting through a lot of competition at one position, and Johnsons night at least made the conversation a little more complicated. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Roster Battle Just Got Tougher After What Happened In Houston
The Chargers got another look at the back end of their roster picture in Houston, where several fringe players made a case to stick around. Jahmeer Carter, Jake Slaughter, Keandre Lambert-Smith, Marlowe Wax, Amar Johnson and DJ Uiagalelei each had moments that matter in August, the kind of snaps coaches and front office staff lean on when the decision-making gets tougher later in camp. It is the sort of preseason performance that can help a player climb from the outside of the conversation to the edge of it.
Amar Johnson, in particular, added some real intrigue with a showing that caught the attention of the sideline, while Uiagaleleis night also gave the staff a chance to evaluate him in game action. For a team sorting through the final layers of its roster, games like this can quietly shape the last few spots and special teams depth, even if the bigger names barely enter the discussion. The Texans matchup did not settle anything, but it did make the competition a little more crowded. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Front Seven Could Steal L.A. Bragging Rights From The Rams
The two teams sharing SoFi Stadium are heading into the season with very different defensive vibes. The Rams made the louder offseason splash with aggressive moves for Myles Garrett and Trent McDuffie, and there is still intrigue around whether Aaron Donald might come back into the picture. The Chargers, by contrast, were quieter in free agency, but their 2025 defense already showed real promise, especially up front, and that has kept them in the conversation in a town where every edge gets compared.
Training camp has only sharpened that view, with the Chargers front seven drawing steady attention as a group that could change the way the race for L.A. bragging rights looks this fall. First-round pick Akheem Mesidor has been part of that buzz, and the broader expectation is that both defenses should be better at getting to the quarterback. For the Chargers, the question is whether a less flashy offseason can still translate into the kind of pass-rush improvement that makes the rest of the city notice. [Read more 🡒]