The Los Angeles Chargers are quickly approaching the final 53-man roster cut-down date, which is Tuesday, August 26, at 1 p.m. (PT). This is the date full of tough decisions, dreams crushed, and sometimes, hard work paying off. With a team as deep as the Chargers in 2025, it is my pleasure to predict the final 53-man roster, even if it is possibly the most difficult roster to predict in the last decade for the Chargers.
Chargers Final 53 Man Roster Prediction: Deepest Of The Decade?
Before getting into each position, this exercise created a plethora of conversations with myself going back and forth on who to keep and who to move on from, even as difficult as it was. This had me thinking, have any of the rosters since 2015 even compared to this 2025 roster in terms of back-end talent and competition?
The only two years going back through rosters that even came close to 2016 and 2020. 2016 had interesting storylines like Tyrell Williams, Damion Square, Jatavis Brown, and Adrian Phillips as all back-end roster guys who cracked the final 53. Whereas 2020 had guys like Jalen Guyton, Tyron Johnson, Donald Parham Jr, and Breiden Fehoko as all individuals who ended up becoming intriguing role players for the Chargers in that season and seasons to follow.
The 2025 Pre-Cut Down Day Roster In Comparison
In 2025, we have intense roster battles with Caleb Murphy making a case for the fifth EDGE spot, forcing the hand for the Chargers to cut elsewhere. But where else?
The Cornerback room had outstanding performances from Eric Rogers and Nikko Reed in the preseason. The Safety room has veteran Tony Jefferson playing incredibly, and rookie RJ Mickens looking like a young Jefferson in his own right. The linebacker room has Marlowe Wax pushing Del’Shawn Phillips for the fifth LB spot.
Furthermore, the IDL room has 7 guys who can all make the roster, with two more who have had good preseasons in their own right. The TE room has Tucker Fisk, who is an incredible blocker and identity fit for this team, yet his spot is questionable. The RB room has three guys vying for the final RB spot if Najee Harris is healthy. This Chargers Final 53-Man Roster is extremely close and is filled with storylines.
All of this to say, it is now time to answer all of those questions and predict who stood out enough to this coaching staff that preaches “competitors welcome” to make this final 53.
Chargers Final 53 Man Roster – Offense
Quarterbacks – Two or Three Kept On Roster?
Who’s In: Justin Herbert, Trey Lance (2)
Who’s Out: Taylor Heinicke, DJ Uiagalelei
The Los Angeles Chargers came into the 2025 season with the idea of Trey Lance being the QB3– a trade-bait QB. His development of his immense tools throughout the off-season and preseason has surprised nearly everyone, taking over the Chargers QB2 spot over Taylor Heinicke, who is now expected to be traded or cut, as keeping three QBs disallows more deserving players to make this Chargers’ final 53-man roster. DJ Uiagalelei has also shown promise in his moments in the preseason, likely eyeing a spot for the practice squad.
DJ LASER SHOW
Uiagalelei drops another dime right on target.
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— ًBoltUpYo (@BoltUpYo) August 24, 2025
Runningbacks – An Abundance of Talent, Will an IR Stint Make This Easier?
Who’s In: Omarion Hampton, Najee Harris (IR), Hassan Haskins, Kimani Vidal, Raheim “Rocket” Sanders [5 -1 IR] (4)
Who’s Out: Nyheim Miller-Hines, Jaret Patterson
One of the most complicated rooms on the Chargers, the running back depth chart has storylines from extremely unfortunate injuries to a three-way race for RB4. Starting with Najee Harris’s unfortunate eye injury, he is trending closer and closer to missing his first-ever games as an NFL player, by being placed on IR. This would make space for an extra roster spot, but also force Harris to miss four or more games.
As for the three-way race for RB4, the extra spot from Harris has now allowed two of the three RBs to make the Chargers final 53-man roster. In this prediction, Kimani Vidal & Raheim “Rocket” Sanders get the nod over Nyheim Miller-Hines. Vidal possesses the sixth round draft capital in his favor, coupled with strides in improving his weaker skills. Sanders possesses major belief from this coaching staff and enough flashes in the preseason as a pure offensive weapon.
Look for Miller-Hines to be on the practice squad as a backup returner/running back, even though ball security has been an issue.
Wide Receiver – Locked Up Since Keenan Allen Arrived
Who’s In: Ladd McConkey, Tre Harris, Keenan Allen, Quentin Johnston, KeAndre Lambert-Smith, Derius Davis (6)
Who’s Out: Jalen Reagor, Brenden Rice, Jaylen Johnson, JaQuae Jackson, Luke Grimm, Dalevon Campbell
As soon as the Chargers reunited with Keenan Allen for 2025, this wide receiver depth chart became locked up. Each of the six who made the roster has a true role on this team and/or was drafted too highly to be cut. With Quentin Johnston dealing with a concussion, there is a small chance he will be placed on IR to allow someone else on the roster initially. However, this is extremely unlikely, as he is already back doing individual drills for the bolts.

Guys like Jalen Reagor, Brenden Rice, Luke Grimm, and Dalevon Campbell have all flashed throughout the off-season, but are the unfortunate odd-guys-out. Expect at least one of these names to make the Chargers practice squad.
Tight End – Ultimate Team Identity Guy Vs Defensive Roster Spot
Who’s In: Tyler Conklin, Will Dissly, Oronde Gadsden II (3)
Who’s Out: Tucker Fisk, Stevo Klotz, Thomas Yassmin
The toughest decision of this entire process comes with cutting Tucker Fisk. An exceptional blocker last season and has done everything right to make this team, but still just cannot crack the Chargers final 53-man roster. This is simply due to a lack of spots on the roster, and with the Chargers already having two blocking TE/FBs on the roster in Scott Matlock and Will Dissly.
Stevo Klotz is an intriguing developmental TE/FB, but has not shown enough to make a case over any of the other TEs on the initial 90-man roster. Thomas Yassmin will also be on the practice squad with an international designation, effectively not costing a practice squad spot to the Chargers.
Offensive Line – The Final 53 Man Roster… Won’t So Final
Who’s In: Joe Alt, Zion Johnson, Bradley Bozeman, Mekhi Becton, Trey Pipkins, Jamaree Salyer, Andre James, David Sharpe (8)
Who’s Out: Branson Taylor, Corey Stewart, Karsen Barnhart, Josh Kaltenberger, Ryan Nelson, Nash Jones
After the injury to Rashawn Slater, the depth for this Chargers offensive line has reared its ugly head, as everyone was effectively bumped up a spot on the roster. David Sharpe is in after recently being signed by the Chargers following the aforementioned injury, but his spot is not safe and should be replaced as soon as Joe Hortiz gets his eyes on who was cut from the other 31 NFL teams.
Chargers’ sixth-round selection, Branson Taylor, will also be cut due to terrible performances in all of the preseason, as well as not enough time at a true position, disallowing him to develop properly. A complete mishandling of the offensive line situation now is forcing the Chargers’ hand to find other teams’ scraps right before the start of the regular season.
Chargers Final 53 Man Roster – Defense & Special Teams
EDGE – The Most Competitive Spot On The Roster?
Who’s In: Tuli Tuipolotu, Khalil Mack, Kyle Kennard, Bud Dupree, Caleb Murphy (5)
Who’s Out: Tre’Mon Morris-Brash, Garmon Randolph, Kylan Guidry
Moving onto the defensive side of the ball, arguably the biggest storyline for the Chargers during the preseason was its EDGE play. Starting with the negative, their fourth-round selection in Kyle Kennard has done nothing all preseason and is likely going to be inactive all of the 2025 season, unless something changes mightily. Luckily for the Chargers, Caleb Murphy and Tre’Mon Morris-Brash have both been incredible playmakers, each building a case for their spot on the Chargers final 53-man roster.
Murphy edges out Morris-Brash due to more flashes on special teams, but Morris-Brash has earned a spot on the practice squad and could hear his name as a midseason elevation. Neither Garmon Randolph nor Kylan Guidry has flashed enough in the off-season and will likely be looking for another NFL chance elsewhere.
Interior Defensive Line – Too Much Talent, Not Enough Roster Spots
Who’s In: Teair Tart, Otito Ogbonnia, Da’Shawn Hand, Jamaree Caldwell, Justin Eboigbe, Naquan Jones, Scott Matlock (7)
Who’s Out: Christopher Hinton, TeRah Edwards, Nesta Jade Silvera
Keeping seven interior defensive linemen is what made cutting Fisk a must-do. This is not done without reason, as Teair Tart, Otito Ogbonnia, Da’Shawn Hand, Jamaree Caldwell, Justin Eboigbe, and Naquan Jones have all flashed during the off-season/preseason and will likely play meaningful snaps for the Chargers in some capacity. The name left off the list is Scott Matlock, but even he will play some defensive snaps this season; however, his designation as the team’s Fullback will likely limit his snaps on defense, even if it is against his aspirations.
The three IDL athletes who were cut are all practice-squad candidates and guys who can possibly even crack a final 53-man roster elsewhere.
I have personally been a Christopher Hinton believer since his arrival, and the flashes he consistently has back this up. TeRah Edwards had an incredible “big man” interception and some flashes throughout the preseason, which makes his case for the practice squad intriguing. Lastly, Nesta Jade Silvera was signed late in the process by the Bolts, and even he has shown flashes, having pass deflections, pressures, and run stops through his short time in Powder Blue.
TeRah Edwards is rumblin’ bumblin’ stumblin’ pic.twitter.com/WMhOi3AtcU
— The Field Pass (@TheFieldPass) August 17, 2025
Linebacker – Competitors… Not Welcome?
Who’s In: Daiyan Henley, Denzel Perryman, Troy Dye, Junior Colson, Del’Shawn Phillips (5)
Who’s Out: Marlowe Wax, Kana’i Muaga, Emany Johnson
The top four guys, Daiyan Henley, Denzel Perryman, Troy Dye, and Junior Colson, all have earned their spot on the roster due to their play and draft pedigree. Moving forward, Del’Shawn Phillips was noted by Ryan Ficken as practically a lock for the Chargers final 53-man roster, even though he has been hurt throughout the entirety of the offseason, and with UDFA Marlowe Wax playing with his hair on fire all throughout the preseason. This comment by Ficken really challenges the team’s identity of “competitors welcome”.
Hopefully, Wax can find his way back on the practice squad and see his name called upon during the 2025 season. Muaga was also in the mix early on in camp due to his special teams ability.
Cornerbacks – Impressive Preseason Leads To Nobody Making The Roster
Who’s In: Donte Jackson, Tarheeb Still, Cam Hart, Benjamin St-Juste, Ja’Sir Taylor (5)
Who’s Out: Deane Leonard, Nikko Reed, Eric Rogers, Nehemiah Shelton, Harrison Hand, Trikweze Bridges
At the time of writing, this decision feels terrible. This is a prediction, not a “what I would do” situation, thus leading to Ja’Sir Taylor being projected on this roster over Nikko Reed, who has been lights out all preseason and offseason long. Hopefully, special teams coordinator Ficken can allow “his guy” to be cut to make room for Reed. It should be noted that keeping five cornerbacks allows the Chargers to have room elsewhere.

Donte Jackson, Tarheeb Still, Cam Hart, and Benjamin St-Juste have all been deemed as “starters” by coach Minter, thus making their spots all locks. The Chargers will also be cutting Deane Leonard and Eric Rogers, even though they have flashed, due to injury. Trikweze Bridges will likely find his way on the practice squad as he was drafted in the seventh round to be a developmental-toolsy cornerback.
Safeties – An All-Pro, Possible Pro-Bowlers, Unc, and A Rookie
Who’s In: Derwin James, Alohi Gilman, Elijah Molden, Tony Jefferson, RJ Mickens (5)
Who’s Out: Kendall Williamson, Jaylen Jones, Myles Purchase
With the Chargers keeping only five cornerbacks, the extra spot from the normal six goes to the Safety room. The Chargers have three starting Safeties in Derwin James, Alohi Gilman, and Elijah Molden. The reserve Safeties are Tony “Unc” Jefferson and the impressive rookie, RJ Mickens. Both have played incredibly well in the preseason and are more than deserving of a roster spot.
Kendall Williamson has been an incredible special teamer in his own right, but he needs to improve on defense before he sees his name on the final 53-man roster for the Chargers. Expect him to return to the practice squad.
Special Teams – No Changes From Last Year Final 53 Man Roster
Who’s In: Cameron Dicker, JK Scott, Josh Harris (3)
Who’s Out: N/A
Over 2,000 words later, we are finally at the end of the Chargers final 53-man roster prediction. Cameron Dicker, JK Scott, and Josh Harris were the starting special teams unit last year, and this will continue to be the same. This was evident from the beginning, as no competition was brought in.
Note: Josh Harris was injured during the preseason game against the 49ers. Tucker Fisk took his place; could this lead to a domino effect?
Last Word on Chargers Final 53-Man Roster Projection
The 2025 regular season is so close to beginning, and the Chargers’ final 53-man roster is yet to be completely finalized. Look for waiver claims and IR movement to really finalize this roster before the start of the season.
Finally, with this exercise over, has Joe Hortiz allowed Jim Harbaugh to continue his mantra of “competitors welcome,” or is this a weak roster that was only hyped due to its exciting back-end camp battles?
Main Photo: [Kirby Lee] – USA Today Sports
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