Did quarterback Trey Lance do enough in limited action Saturday in a 30-23 exhibition loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara to wrap up the battle to be Justin Herbert’s backup? Did linebacker Marlowe Wax show enough to secure a roster spot? Did safety Nikko Reed?
All will be revealed Tuesday, when NFL teams must cut their training camp rosters to a league-mandated 53 players. Here’s a closer look at the Chargers’ projected 53-man roster, with a reminder that who they start with could change dramatically as the season unfolds:
QUARTERBACK (2)
Projected starter: Herbert. Projected backup: Lance. Herbert’s 2024 season got off to a middling start because of foot and ankle injuries, but he also recorded a career-low with only three interceptions and was on the field for a career-best 11 victories during the regular season. Lance was clearly the best during training camp and exhibition play of a group of potential backups.
RUNNING BACK (5)
Projected starter: Omarion Hampton. Projected backups: Kimani Vidal, Hassan Haskins, Raheim Sanders, Scott Matlock (fullback). Hampton won the starter’s job after free agent Najee Harris landed on the non-football injury list after a July 4 fireworks accident injured his eye and he was sidelined for all of training camp. At some point, Harris will play and Hampton will shift to a backup’s role.
WIDE RECEIVER (6)
Projected starters: Keenan Allen, Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston. Projected backups: Tre’ Harris, KeAndre Lambert-Smith, Derius Davis. Allen’s return to the Chargers after spending one season with the Chicago Bears gives the wide receiver group a veteran presence. McConkey broke Allen’s franchise rookie records for catches with 82 and receiving yards with 1,149 last season.
TIGHT END (3)
Projected starter: Will Dissly. Projected backups: Tyler Conklin, Oronde Gadsden. The Chargers signed Conklin and drafted Gadsden in an attempt to improve their blocking in the running game while also creating additional targets for Herbert in the passing game. Expect to see a three-man rotation to start the season.
OFFENSIVE LINE (9)
Projected starters: Joe Alt, Zion Johnson, Bradley Bozeman, Mekhi Becton, Trey Pipkins III. Projected backups: Jamaree Salyer, Andre James, Branson Taylor, David Sharpe. Left tackle Rashawn Slater suffered a season-ending knee injury only days after signing a four-year, $114-million contract extension. Alt moved from right tackle to left to replace Slater. Pipkins moved into Alt’s spot at right tackle.
DEFENSIVE LINE (6)
Projected starters: Otito Ogbonnia, Teiar Tart, Da’Shawn Hand. Projected backups: Jamaree Caldwell, Naquan Jones, Justin Eboigbe. Poona Ford signed with the Rams and Morgan Fox departed for the Atlanta Falcons, leaving the Chargers to make adjustments during the offseason. They re-signed Tart, signed Hand as a free agent and drafted Caldwell.
LINEBACKER (9)
Projected starters: Tuli Tuipulotu, Daiyan Henley, Denzel Perryman, Khalil Mack. Projected backups: Bud Dupree, Troy Dye, Junior Colson, Caleb Murphy, Kyle Kennard. The Chargers cut longtime edge rusher Joey Bosa, clearing the way for Tuipulotu to become a starter opposite Mack, who re-signed for his 12th season in the NFL. Del’Shawn Phillips sat out almost all of camp because of an injury, but could emerge as an important backup linebacker and special teams performer.
CORNERBACK (5)
Projected starters: Donte Jackson, Tarheeb Still. Projected backups: Cam Hart, Benjamin St-Juste, Ja’Sir Taylor. Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter said he believed he had four starters among a group of five cornerbacks, so expect to see various combinations during the season. Jackson and Still could start, but so could Hart and St-Juste.
SAFETY (5)
Projected starters: Derwin James Jr., Alohi Gilman. Projected backups: Elijah Molden, Tony Jefferson, R.J. Mickens. James filled a key role as a fifth defensive back last season and there’s no reason to believe anything will change this coming season with Gilman and Molden playing the safety roles and James shifting from spot to spot depending on the situation.
SPECIALISTS (3)
Projected starters: Cameron Dicker (kicker), JK Scott (punter), Josh Harris (long snapper). Consistency and continuity have been huge parts of the Chargers’ special teams success since Dicker, Scott and Harris teamed up midway through the 2022 season. Dicker has made 89 of 95 field goals as a Charger.