Chargers mandatory minicamp gets underway today!
Here are six players we’ll be watching closely when the team hits the field!
LB Junior Colson
Now here is a name that many fans probably have forgot about in stretches over the last year.
Colson was a 2024 third-round pick of the Chargers straight out of Jim Harbaugh’s championship defense at Michigan. Initial expectations were that Colson was to join Daiyan Henley as a starting linebacker immediately due to his advanced knowledge of Jesse Minter’s defense.
Unfortunately
injuries have simply ravaged his early NFL years and he’s on the cusp of a real make-or-break season in year three. If does not start seeing the field and showing he can stay healthy, I’m not sure his ties with Harbaugh will be enough to keep him on the roster.
EDGE Akheem Mesidor
No surprise that the eyes of the Chargers faithful will be on this year’s first-round pick. Mesidor was one of the nation’s top pass rushers in 2025 and he’ll now look to further build the chemistry needed to wreak havoc alongside both Khalil Mack and Tuli Tuipulotu in Chris O’Leary’s defense.
This week, we’ll be keeping an eye on Mesidor’s usage in both two and three-rusher packages to get as good of an early idea as possible on how he’ll be utilized under O’Leary this season.
QB Justin Herbert
One of the weirdest storylines of this offseason has most certainly been Justin Herbert being asked NOT to throw as he builds a new foundation of footwork to be used in Mike McDaniel’s offense.
There have been a number of days where Herbert did not throw a single pass and instead worked footwork drills with a medicine ball. The reason behind this is that McDaniel’s offense works much more within the quick game (screens, RPOs, etc.) and Herbert’s previous stance and footwork was geared towards his deep drop backs from the shotgun.
Now, Herbert must utilize a different stance and setup to better prep for success in this new system.
OG Kayode Awosika
At this point of the offseason Awosika has been the Chargers’ starter at left guard. He earned the lion’s share of snaps with the first team through OTAs and the expectation is that he’ll continue that trend this week during mandatory minicamp.
I don’t think it’s out of line to say that Awosika’s addition in free agency was mainly to find depth at the spot who had some semblance of experience in McDaniel’s system. Awosika spent time with the Niners earlier in his career and the two offenses aren’t that far off.
If he can start and finish minicamp as the starter at left guard, I think we’ll have to reset expectations for Slaughter this year. It just does not sound like good process for the coaching staff to give Awosika all of these reps just to replace him with Slaughter in training camp. That does neither player any good for their short-term development.
OG/C Jake Slaughter
Slaughter was drafted with the plan that he would fight for a starting job at left guard with both Awosika and Trevor Penning. Through OTAs, Slaughter has mainly been with the second team at left guard. That shouldn’t be all that big of a surprise given that hadn’t played guard since high school. He’ll likely continue to be with the backups to start OTAs, though it’d be a positive sign to see him earn more time with the 1s this week.
Ideally, Slaughter starts to get more of a show of faith and commitment from the staff as the team’s starter. If there’s no change in his snaps this week, I’l
S Genesis Smith
The Chargers have a fairly full safety room after they used one of their fifth-round pick on Smith in this year’s draft. He came into this team as their fifth safety behind the likes of Derwin James, Elijah Molden Tony Jefferson, and R.J. Mickens.
Smith has more of a unique skillset compared to the others as a true centerfielder. That may get Smith involved in some specific coverage packages, even as a rookie.
