Trevor Penning’s hold on a Chargers roster spot is suddenly looking less secure than it did when Los Angeles first took a swing on him.
The team brought him in from the New Orleans Saints at last season’s trade deadline as a low-risk bet on upside, hoping a change of scenery could help a former first-round pick find his footing. Then the Chargers brought him back this offseason on a one-year prove-it deal, banking on another year in the system to help unlock more of the talent that made him a first-rounder in 2022.
But with training camp approaching, Penning is no longer sitting in a comfortable spot. He’s in the middle of a crowded left guard battle, and the early OTA picture is not especially encouraging for his chances of locking down a starting job.
Veteran addition Kayode Awosika has handled most of the first-team reps at left guard so far, while second-round rookie Jake Slaughter has been working consistently with the second unit. That leaves Penning in a tricky place: useful, but not obviously central to the plan.
His clearest path to sticking around is the same one that made him appealing in the first place - versatility. Penning came into the league as a tackle with the Saints, then shifted inside to guard late in his New Orleans stint. Los Angeles has looked at him in a similar role, and that kind of flexibility matters over a 17-game season, especially for a team that has made protecting Justin Herbert a priority.
The Chargers know the trenches are where seasons get bent out of shape. Injuries have been a constant problem for the offensive line in recent years, and veterans who can fill in at more than one spot tend to earn real value in that environment. Even if Penning doesn’t win a starting job, his ability to play both tackle and guard could keep him high on the call sheet when bodies start going down.
Still, the numbers game is working against him. Awosika seems to have the early edge for the starting left guard role, and Slaughter is the kind of investment teams usually want to develop after taking him in the second round out of Florida.
Slaughter also brings his own flexibility, having played center in college before working on the interior since being drafted. If he adapts quickly and the coaching staff likes the depth it has built, Penning could find himself on the outside looking in before the regular season even starts.
A trade would not be a surprise in that kind of scenario. Former first-round picks tend to draw attention because other teams still believe a fresh start can revive them, and Penning is only 27 with the size and athletic traits that once made him such a coveted prospect. If injuries hit elsewhere during camp or the preseason, the Chargers could absolutely get calls.
For now, Penning is one of the more interesting names to watch as camp gets closer.
In Other News...
Chargers Suddenly Have A Bigger Tight End Question Than Expected
Oronde Gadsden II looked like he had carved out a clear path after a strong rookie season, but the Chargers changed the equation by signing veteran tight end David Njoku to a one-year deal. The move instantly turned what seemed like a straightforward depth-chart conversation into a much more interesting one, with Gadsdens emergence meeting Njokus proven track record.
Njoku brings nine years of experience and a Pro Bowl nod, along with the kind of rsum that can keep a coaching staff thinking about bigger usage than a simple starter-backup split. Mike McDaniel may lean into multiple tight end formations, which would allow both players to stay involved, but the more intriguing part for the Chargers is how quickly a crowded room can turn into one of the offenses defining questions. [Read more 🡒]
Tre Harris Could Change Everything For Chargers Passing Attack
Tre Harris arrived in Los Angeles with the kind of college rsum that suggested he could fit quickly into a pro passing game, and his first season with the Chargers offered plenty of reasons to think that assessment was right. After a strong final year at Ole Miss in 2024, when he turned in career bests in several receiving categories, Harris showed enough in 2025 to validate the investment, finishing with 32 catches, 344 yards, a touchdown and a strong track record on contested throws while also getting starts in both regular season and postseason games.
What comes next is what makes him so interesting for the Chargers. Harris already has the look of a reliable target with good speed and the kind of hands that can help a quarterback in tight moments, and the sense around the team is that his role should grow in 2026. There are still parts of his game that need sharpening, but if that development comes along, he has a real chance to become one of the players who changes the shape of this passing attack. [Read more 🡒]