The Los Angeles Chargers are preparing for another season and have some roster decisions to make before cutdown day.
Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh and general manager Joe Hortiz will have to work together to finalize the 53-man roster. NFL teams must complete their cuts by 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, Aug. 30. Players could be released in the days and hours leading up to the deadline.
The Chargers will have to account for several scenarios, especially for a franchise that’s been plagued by injuries and late-game mistakes.
In recent years, the Chargers have dealt with injuries across the offensive line. The Chargers already had some attrition there and will have to lean on second-round pick Jake Slaughter as their new starter, following the season-ending
injury to Tyler Biadasz.
Kayode Awosika and Trey Pipkins III were among the contenders for the Chargers' starting left guard spot. Awosika was tabbed as the starter for the last preseason game and may have secured the starting role. He's made just 11 career starts. Pipkins is in his eighth season with the Chargers and has the ability to play both guard and tackle. He’s made 51 starts at tackle and just 15 as a guard.
Gregory Desrosiers will be a player to watch this weekend. He was among the standouts for the Chargers during the preseason finale but is currently listed as sixth on the depth chart. Desrosiers produced 118 yards and a touchdown on nine carries against the Rams. His longest rush of the game was 34 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
"I try to just control what I can control and handle business. Everything will take care of itself," Desrosiers told CBS sideline reporter Jaime Maggio after the game
Justin Herbert is obviously the starting quarterback, but what the Chargers do with the rest of their quarterback room remains unknown.
Trey Lance and DJ Uiagalelei have both seen time on the field during the preseason. While both showed positives during the three-game sample size, the Chargers could still explore other available quarterbacks from other teams.
There are questions that remain on the defensive side of the ball, including the depth at linebacker. Marlowe Wax, a 2025 undrafted free agent, and Junior Colson, a 2024 third-round selection, could be players on the bubble.
Colson has a level of familiarity, having played at Michigan during Harbaugh's tenure. Wax was given the green dot on his helmet over Colson during the first preseason game, according to Chargers Wire, when both were on the field together.
Chargers depth chart
Here’s what the Chargers’ depth chart looked like on the team’s website ahead of the final preseason game.
OFFENSE
LWR: Quentin Johnston, KeAndre Lambert-Smith, JaQuae Jackson, Liam Clifford
RWR: Tre’ Harris, Brenen Thompson, Dalevon Campbell, Sincere Brown
SLOT: Ladd McConkey, Derius Davis, Devonte Ross
LT: Rashawn Slater, Trey Pipkins III, Isaiah World
LG: Kayode Awosika, Branson Taylor, Alex Harkey
C: Jake Slaughter, Josh Kaltenberger, Jacob Spomer
RG: Cole Strange, Trevor Penning, Logan Taylor
RT: Joe Alt, Travis Burke, Laekin Vakalahi
TE: Oronde Gadsden, Charlie Kolar, David Njoku, Evan Svoboda, Jerand Bradley, Johnny Pascuzzi
QB: Justin Herbert, Trey Lance, DJ Uiagalelei
RB: Omarion Hampton, Keaton Mitchell, Kimani Vidal, Jaret Patterson, Amar Johnson, Gregory Desrosiers
FB: Alec Ingold, Scott Matlock
DEFENSE
DE: Jamaree Caldwell, Justin Eboigbe, Terry Webb
NT: Dalvin Tomlinson, Nick Barrett, Jahmeer Carter
DT: Teair Tart, TeRah Edwards, Jacobian Guillory
LOLB: Tuli Tuipulotu, Bud Dupree, Kyle Kennard, Andre Carter II
LILB: Denzel Perryman, Del'Shawn Phillips, Marlowe Wax, Lander Barton
RILB: Daiyan Henley, Troy Dye, Junior Colson, Emany Johnson
ROLB: Khalil Mack, Akheem Mesidor, Nadame Tucker, Garmon Randolph
LCB: Tarheeb Still, Deane Leonard, Rodney Shelley, Isas Waxter
SS: Tony Jefferson, Genesis Smith, Kendall Williamson, Devin Grant
FS: Elijah Molden, RJ Mickens, Noah Avinger, Myles Purchase
RCB: Cam Hart, Donte Jackson, Avery Smith, Eric Rogers
NB: Derwin James Jr., Nikko Reed
SPECIAL TEAMS
PT: JK Scott
PK: Cameron Dicker
LS: Josh Harris, Peter Bowden
H: JK Scott
KO: Cameron Dicker
PR: Derius Davis, Brenen Thompson, KeAndre Lambert-Smith, Ladd McConkey, Devonte Ross
KR: Derius Davis, Keaton Mitchell, Kimani Vidal, KeAndre Lambert-Smith
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Los Angeles Chargers depth chart: Who could make 53-man roster?
