EL SEGUNDO — The way defensive coordinator Jesse Minter sees it, the Chargers have four starters at cornerback, which would be a really good thing if they were allowed to field a 13-man defensive unit instead of the legal 11-man limit. But his point was well taken Wednesday.
It was Minter’s belief that he could start two of any four of the following players and still feel comfortable going into the season opener on Sept. 5: Cam Hart, Donte Jackson, Benjamin St-Juste and Tarheeb Still. Who starts might not matter, anyway, because all four are likely to play in a rotation.
Cornerback was one of several positions that seemed wide open going into the start of training camp on July 17. Superb play from undrafted free agents Nikko Reed and Eric Rogers only heightened the competition as camp continued and preseason games were won and lost in the past few weeks.
With one camp practice remaining Thursday and one more preseason game to be played on Saturday against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, the competition figures to continue. In fact, it might be one of those situations where nothing is settled until well into the regular season, and even then it might not be.
After all, Jackson and Still could emerge as starters when the Chargers face the Kansas City Chiefs in a little more than two weeks in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Hart and St-Juste could be the backups. But everything could change by the time the Chargers suit up to play the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 2.
Reed and Rogers could end up being cut from the Chargers’ 53-man roster on Tuesday but end up on their 17-man practice squad by week’s end. Or they could be claimed by one of the other 31 teams in the NFL, one eager to add an unheralded but young, emerging standout or two.
“I think we have four starters at the corner position, but that doesn’t mean they’re all out there to start the season,” Minter said. “I feel great about the four (Jackson, Hart, St-Juste and Still). I feel great about more down the line (Reed and Rogers). I think ‘D-Jack’ (Jackson) and Tarheeb have done a great job.”
Cornerback was a position of need during the offseason, and Chargers general manger Joe Hortiz went about addressing it during the opening days of free agency. He signed Jackson to a two-year, $13-million contract on March 10 and then added St-Juste on a one-year, $2.5-million deal two days later.
A neck injury sidelined Asante Samuel Jr. only four games into the 2024 season and cast his NFL future in doubt. One season earlier, the previous regime of GM Tom Telesco and Coach Brandon Staley cut loose J.C. Jackson, trading him back to the New England Patriots after signing him before the 2022 season.
By the end of the 2024, Hart and Still emerged as starters after their rapid development during their rookie seasons. Hart and Still were fifth-round draft picks from Notre Dame and Maryland, respectively. Adding free agents Jackson and St-Juste added greatly to the Chargers’ depth.
Plus, Reed and Rogers have each made a strong push to make the roster. Reed returned an interception 60 yards during the Chargers’ victory over the Detroit Lions on July 31. Rogers had two interceptions, returning one 55 yards for a touchdown, in an Aug. 10 victory over the New Orleans Saints.
“Love the group, overall,” Minter said. “I think, as training camp has gone on, there’s been some great things in that (cornerback) room. The way Nikko has pushed himself into that group. The way Eric Rogers has pushed himself into that group, it’s been really cool to see.”
EXTRA POINTS
Right guard Mekhi Becton joined the Chargers for team drills one day after returning to the practice field after a three-week layoff because of an undisclosed injury. …
Safety Alohi Gilman rejoined practice after suffering an undisclosed injury during the Chargers’ loss to the Rams on Saturday.