The Chargers leave preseason Week 2 with a roster picture that still feels unsettled, and the biggest shakeups are showing up where they hurt most: along the offensive line and in a few tightly packed position battles.
Tyler Biadasz is out because of injury, and for now that means he’s being treated as an IR case. That change ripples through the rest of the group, with Kayode Awosika stepping into the lead at left guard after Jake Slaughter moved over to center. Travis Burke also gets a nod as a breakout backup swing tackle.
The interior line remains the old problem that refuses to go away, but the bigger question now is how the Chargers sort out the rest of the roster around it.
At quarterback, DJ Uiagalelei has started to make things interesting behind Justin Herbert. He’s not quite at the point of displacing Trey Lance, but he has done enough to turn the backup job into something worth watching.
In the backfield, Amar Johnson has put together a strong preseason, especially when the blocking in front of him has looked ready for real games. Even so, if the Chargers keep only three backs, Kimani Vidal is the one projected to stick.
The receiver room is just as crowded. Oronde Gadsden has almost looked passed over, but the top three are straightforward.
Keandre Lambert-Smith is hard to leave off the roster, especially with the Chargers already moving on from someone like Luke Grimm. Rookie Brenen Thompson also adds return and gadget value that could have otherwise gone to Derius Davis, though this still looks like a heated competition.
Defensively, there’s less drama at the top, but one of the more notable calls in the projection is at linebacker. Junior Colson gets pushed off the final 53 after struggling to meet expectations, while Marlowe Wax gets the edge because he’s been more consistently good.
Up front, the Chargers appear set. Teair Tart is the leader after signing an extension this offseason, and Dalvin Tomlinson was added in free agency.
The edge group also gets a clear projection. Undrafted rookie Nadame Tucker has lived up to the fanbase’s hype and is slotted to make the team, while Kyle Kennard takes the last spot in hopes he can still climb toward his draft slot. That leaves Bud Dupree on the outside.
The secondary might be the easiest part of the roster to sort out, and that’s a credit to years of strong drafting and value finds. Donte Jackson is projected to start, Tarheeb Still and Cam Hart look like strong mid-round hits, and Nikko Reed gives the Chargers quality depth with real long-term upside.
One more rookie is worth watching: Genesis Smith has a real shot at playing time if he shows in live action that he’s moved past the tackling issues. For the Chargers, that’s a pretty good problem to have at a strong position.
In Other News...
Chargers May Have Found A Camp Surprise They Actually Need
Jacob Spomer came into Chargers camp as a long shot, the kind of undrafted free agent from Fresno State who usually has to spend August trying to survive the numbers game. Instead, he has kept stacking good days. After turning heads in OTAs and training camp, Spomer moved from a presumed fourth-center spot up to third on the depth chart and has since handled significant preseason snaps while holding up cleanly in pass protection.
Through two preseason games, Pro Football Focus has graded Spomer as the highest center in the NFL, a notable development for a Chargers team that always has to be mindful of depth along the interior. He is now listed as the backup center, and the bigger question is no longer whether he belongs in the picture but how much more he can force the team to trust him before roster decisions get final. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Roster Battle Is Getting Complicated For The Coaching Staff
The Chargers have spent much of training camp sorting through a crowded group of young players who have made a real case for themselves in the preseason. Second-year offensive lineman Branson Taylor, quarterback DJ Uiagalelei, undrafted rookie cornerback Avery Smith, linebacker Junior Colson and rookie offensive lineman Travis Burke have all drawn positive attention as the staff takes a long look at who belongs in the mix.
What has made the evaluation tricky is how many of those performances have been encouraging at once, with each player showing enough improvement to keep the conversation going. For a roster still being shaped at the edges, that kind of depth is a good problem to have, but it also means the final decisions are getting harder with every practice and preseason game. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Have A Real Roster Problem Hiding Behind The Podium Show
The Chargers spent part of the week trying to project calm from the podium, but the roster issues behind it are still very real. New offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel drew plenty of attention with his public remarks in press conference settings, while Jim Harbaugh also offered an update on Justin Herberts physical status, keeping the focus on the quarterback room at a time when every answer matters for a team trying to settle its depth chart.
Beyond the optics, Los Angeles still has practical decisions to make as it trims and manages the 53-man roster. The backup job behind Herbert remains unresolved with DJ Uiagaleleis preseason showing part of the evaluation, and the situation at center got more complicated with Tyler Biadasz moving to injured reserve. The talking points may be lively, but the Chargers still have some real roster sorting to do before the picture looks settled. [Read more 🡒]