The Chargers wrapped up their final preseason matchup, falling to the Rams 20-18 on Thursday night at SoFi Stadium.
Let’s dive into our final 53-man roster projection before cuts are made.
Quarterback: Justin Herbert, Trey Lance (2)
DJ Uiagalelei has looked more comfortable than Lance this preseason, but the Chargers have played Lance ahead of him in all three preseason games, which indicates that it's never been much of a competition for the QB2 job despite what the coaching staff might be saying. Los Angeles should probably be looking on the trade or cut market for a new QB2, however, with Lance leaving and Uiagalelei staying with the Chargers on the practice squad.
Running back: Omarion Hampton, Keaton Mitchell, Alec Ingold (FB), Kimani Vidal
(4)
Not much to debate here, as the numbers elsewhere make it nearly impossible to justify keeping a fifth running back when counting Ingold. Greg Desrosiers Jr. had his best game as a Charger with over 100 yards, including a 34-yard touchdown scamper, which will make the battle for the practice squad job(s) far more interesting with Jaret Patterson not playing on Thursday and Amar Johnson running for 37 yards on 7 carries.
Wide receiver: Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, Tre’ Harris, Brenen Thompson, KeAndre Lambert-Smith, Derius Davis (6)
There hasn't been much to suggest that Davis won't be one of Los Angeles' main returners this season, which pretty much solidifies this group. The next closest player to this group was Dalevon Campbell, but he suffered what appeared to be a major knee injury on Thursday and had to be helped to the locker room. That opens up a spot for Devonte Ross or JaQuae Jackson, who have both also handled some returns this preseason.
Tight end: Charlie Kolar, David Njoku, Oronde Gadsden II (3)
Nobody else is really close to this trio, and the presence of Ingold as a fullback makes the room a bit more full than only having 3 on the roster would seem. All three of Kolar, Njoku, and Gadsden should be heavily involved in the offense.
Offensive line: Rashawn Slater, Joe Alt, Cole Strange, Kayode Awosika, Jake Slaughter, Trey Pipkins III, Travis Burke, Branson Taylor, Jacob Spomer (9)
Tyler Biadasz is on season-ending injured reserve, which gets undrafted rookie Jacob Spomer a spot and reduces the necessity of keeping Trevor Penning or rookies Logan Taylor or Alex Harkey around as a tenth lineman. Spomer has been phenomenal in the preseason and has earned the spot even if Biadasz was healthy, but the Chargers will likely look for a veteran backup at center behind Jake Slaughter who can start on the practice squad. Penning is also not subject to waivers, so he could be back quickly, or the Chargers could search for a trade for him.
Defensive line: Teair Tart, Dalvin Tomlinson, Jamaree Caldwell, Justin Eboigbe, Nick Barrett (5)
Barrett flashed a bit on Thursday, which solidified his hold on the last spot in this room over TeRah Edwards, who was more pedestrian on Thursday after standing out in the first two preseason games. Edwards should be one of the first players re-signed to the practice squad if he clears waivers. The other 4 in this room should be incredibly productive players for the Chargers this year.
Edge rusher: Khalil Mack, Tuli Tuipulotu, Akheem Mesidor, Bud Dupree (4)
Kyle Kennard did not suit up for the second week in a row on Thursday, which gave Nadame Tucker and Andre Carter II another opportunity to go out and win the EDGE5 job emphatically. Neither did so, and the numbers game elsewhere makes it such that there may simply be no space for a fifth rusher. Kennard will probably be placed on injured reserve during cuts to maintain his ability to return later in the year without using a roster spot on him right now. Tucker and Carter are both strong candidates for the practice squad.
Linebacker: Daiyan Henley, Denzel Perryman, Troy Dye, Del’Shawn Phillips, Marlowe Wax (5)
Wax has been better than Junior Colson this preseason, but Colson has closed that gap and at least made the final spot a debate. There's plenty of Michigan connections around the league, so he might not make it through waivers, but the Chargers would have to feel good about the depth in their room if they could get Colson back on the practice squad. Dye and Phillips are great special teamers but may wind up falling behind Wax on the defensive depth chart as the season goes on.
Cornerback: Derwin James Jr., Tarheeb Still, Cam Hart, Donte Jackson, Deane Leonard, Nikko Reed, Avery Smith (7)
We've had Reed off the team the last two weeks, but he played in the first half and was allowed to exit the game early basically all preseason. The Chargers don't have many other bodies capable of eating up some snaps in the slot when James is elsewhere, either, so we'll take the EDGE5 spot and give it to him. Smith has done enough to make the team even though he committed a pass interference penalty on Thursday.
Safety: Elijah Molden, Tony Jefferson, Genesis Smith, RJ Mickens, Kendall Williamson (5)
Williamson will make this roster because of his special teams value, with Smith a likely gameday inactive to start the season. That's not necessarily due to Smith's unreadiness, but more about how the rest of this room has looked this preseason. Jefferson had a 4th-and-1 run stop inside the five-yard line on Thursday.
Specialists: Cameron Dicker, JK Scott, Josh Harris (3)
Dicker missed a 49-yarder and Scott mishit a 20-yard punt on Thursday, but the Chargers don't have anybody to keep instead of those two. That's obviously justified in the case of Dicker, who appeared to also tweak something on the opening kickoff. Scott handled kickoffs for the rest of the game, but his spot feels more tenuous than it's ever been after his decision to not attempt a tackle on a punt return touchdown last week.
This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: Chargers roster projection: Who is safe after the preseason finale?
