{"id":456303,"date":"2026-09-07T15:06:19","date_gmt":"2026-09-07T15:06:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/456303\/"},"modified":"2026-09-07T15:06:19","modified_gmt":"2026-09-07T15:06:19","slug":"chargers-roster-breakdown-tested-veterans-and-potential-rising-stars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/456303\/","title":{"rendered":"Chargers roster breakdown: Tested veterans and potential rising stars"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

There\u2019s a sense of urgency throughout the Chargers<\/a>\u2019 training facility in El Segundo.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m just really fired up,\u201d coach Jim Harbaugh<\/a> said. \u201cWe got us a ball team.\u201d<\/p>\n

With Mike McDaniel<\/a> leading a revamped offense and Chris O\u2019Leary<\/a> leading an already-solid defense, Harbaugh and second-year general manager Joe Hortiz<\/a> have good reason for optimism.<\/p>\n

Here is a look at the Chargers\u2019 roster heading into Week 1:<\/p>\n

Quarterbacks (2): Justin Herbert, Trey Lance<\/p>\n

Herbert is learning a new system entering his seventh season in Los Angeles.<\/p>\n

Despite throwing for 3,727 yards with 26 touchdowns in 2025, Herbert spent much of the offseason learning new footwork \u2014 now putting his left foot in front of his right in the shotgun \u2014 at the request of McDaniel.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s about doing your job and having respect for your teammates,\u201d Herbert said. \u201cYou want them to give 100%, so you better give 100% yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n

For the second straight season, Lance will back up Herbert.<\/p>\n

\"Chargers <\/p>\n

Chargers running back Omarion Hampton carries the ball against the Houston Texans at SoFi Stadium in December.<\/p>\n

(Eric Thayer \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n

Running backs (4): Omarion Hampton, Keaton Mitchell, Kimani Vidal, Alec Ingold<\/p>\n

Hampton is a serious breakout candidate after rushing for 545 yards and four touchdowns in nine games during an injury-hampered rookie season.<\/p>\n

Vidal returns after leading the Chargers with 643 rushing yards. Ingold comes in at fullback after playing four seasons under McDaniel in Miami. Mitchell has been limited recently but is on pace to suit up against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.<\/p>\n

Wide receivers (6): Quentin Johnston, Ladd McConkey, Brenen Thompson, Tre\u2019 Harris, Derius Davis, KeAndre Lambert-Smith<\/p>\n

McDaniel loves getting the ball to playmakers as quickly as possible. So, the Chargers are hopeful for career years from Johnston and McConkey.<\/p>\n

Thompson, a rookie who ran the fastest 40-yard dash in the NFL scouting combine, has impressed with his speed and could be a sleeper contributor in space.<\/p>\n

Tight ends (3): Charlie Kolar, Oronde Gadsden, David Njoku<\/p>\n

The Chargers believe they have a three-headed monster.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re all great dudes,\u201d Njoku said. \u201cEveryone has their own thing … we complement each other. We just push each other to strive for greatness.\u201d<\/p>\n

Njoku enters Year 10 with 34 career receiving touchdowns; Gadsden enters Year 2 with three; Kolar enters Year 5 with four, but he could see more opportunities even if he\u2019ll mostly be used as a blocker.<\/p>\n

Offensive linemen (11): Travis Burke, Trevor Penning, Jacob Spomer, Kayode Awosika, Joe Alt, Trey Pipkins III, Jake Slaughter, Alex Harkey, Logan Taylor, Cole Strange, Rashawn Slater<\/p>\n

Hortiz doesn\u2019t want the Chargers, who devastatingly lost starting center Tyler Biadasz to a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament injury, to be as thin on the offensive line as they were in 2025.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re just going to keep \u2018em all and see what happens,\u201d Hortiz said, noting Branson Taylor will return from the injured reserve at some point too.<\/p>\n

Awosika appears to have won the Chargers\u2019 lengthy left guard competition. But all eyes are on rookie Jake Slaughter, now the starting center with Biadasz sidelined. Slaughter played center at Florida.<\/p>\n

Defensive linemen (5): Jamaree Caldwell, Teair Tart, Nick Barrett, Justin Eboigbe, Dalvin Tomlinson<\/p>\n

Tart, who signed a three-year contract extension in January, is the anchor in the trenches after starting in 17 games last season.<\/p>\n

\u201cReal players, proven players,\u201d Harbaugh said. \u201cAnd young players that proved enough.\u201d<\/p>\n

Caldwell, a third-round pick in 2025, is one of the younger players that\u2019s seemingly proved enough to be in line for a bigger role.<\/p>\n

\"Chargers <\/p>\n

Chargers linebacker Akheem Mesidor walks on the field during a preseason game against the Rams on Aug. 27.<\/p>\n

(Kyusung Gong \/ Associated Press)<\/p>\n

Edge rushers (4): Tuli Tuipulotu, Khalil Mack, Akheem Mesidor, Bud Dupree<\/p>\n

The Chargers have an embarrassment of riches off the edges.<\/p>\n

Mack once again decided to extend his prolific career, Tuipulotu is playing for a new contract after earning 13 sacks in 2025, and Dupree brings veteran depth. But the real thrill comes from the team\u2019s 25-year-old rookie.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it went well,\u201d said Mesidor, the No. 22 pick in the draft, about his first training camp. \u201cJust trying to perfect my craft, keep asking the older guys questions and get better every day.\u201d<\/p>\n

O\u2019Leary hinted at Mack, Tuipulotu and Mesidor sharing the field at the same time \u2014 opposing quarterbacks should take note.<\/p>\n

Linebackers (4): Daiyan Henley, Marlowe Wax, Del\u2019Shawn Phillips, Troy Dye<\/p>\n

\"Illustration <\/a> <\/p>\n

2026 NFL season preview<\/p>\n

Henley, who has collected 250 tackles, 4\u00bd sacks and three interceptions over the past two seasons, has much on his plate as the unequivocal leader of the linebacker corps.<\/p>\n

Like Tuipulotu, he\u2019s pursuing a new contract, although Henley won\u2019t have Denzel Perryman alongside him for the first four weeks after the 12th-year pro was placed on injured reserve because of an undisclosed ailment.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve spoken all camp about how deep that room is and how talented it is,\u201d O\u2019Leary said. \u201cSo now, it\u2019s time to show that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cornerbacks (5): Cam Hart, Donte Jackson, Tarheeb Still, Rodney Shelley, Deane Leonard<\/p>\n

Still and Jackson are primed to lead a possible rotation at cornerback as they did a season ago.<\/p>\n

Like Still, Hart could be in for third-year strides after a solid camp. Shelley joins center Spomer as the two undrafted free agents to make the initial 53-man roster.<\/p>\n

Safeties (6): Derwin James Jr., Elijah Molden, Tony Jefferson, RJ Mickens, Kendall Williamson, Genesis Smith<\/p>\n

James, a first-team All-Pro, returns as arguably the best defensive back in the NFL. His presence makes O\u2019Leary\u2019s defense that much easier to operate.<\/p>\n

\u201c[It\u2019s] not every year you get [a] Derwin coming in as the highest-paid safety, and all he wants to do is give, give, give,\u201d Jackson said.<\/p>\n

The safety room overall has plenty of continuity from last season, as does the secondary as a whole. Smith had a strong training camp and is a rookie to watch.<\/p>\n

Specialists (3): K Cameron Dicker, P JK Scott, LS Josh Harris<\/p>\n

Dicker and Scott struggled during the preseason.<\/p>\n

However, Hortiz believes they\u2019ve earned the right to be judged on their regular-season production rather than low moments in tuneups.<\/p>\n

Practice squad: Quarterback CJ Uiagalelei; linebackers Lander Barton, Andre Carter II, Junior Colson, Caleb Murphy and Nadame Tucker; running backs Gregory Desrosiers, Amar Johnson; tight ends Patrick Herbert and Evan Svoboda; receivers Gary Jennings and Theo Wease Jr.; center Josh Kaltenberger; cornerbacks Nikko Reed, Kaiir Elam; offensive tackle Laekin Vakalahi; defensive linemen Jordan Jefferson, Terry Webb.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"There\u2019s a sense of urgency throughout the Chargers\u2019 training facility in El Segundo. \u201cI\u2019m just really fired up,\u201d…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":456304,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[69622,1535,75945,6457,30439,1544,30434,48,52,51,47,50,49,146815,122688,14933,92665,780,51949,1539,72],"class_list":["post-456303","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-los-angeles","tag-akheem-mesidor","tag-chargers","tag-chris-oleary","tag-david-njoku","tag-donte-jackson","tag-justin-herbert","tag-khalil-mack","tag-la","tag-la-headlines","tag-la-news","tag-los-angeles","tag-los-angeles-headlines","tag-los-angeles-news","tag-mike-mcdaniel","tag-oronde-gadsden","tag-rookie","tag-seventh-season","tag-touchdown","tag-tuli-tuipulotu","tag-yard","tag-year"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/456303","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=456303"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/456303\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/456304"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=456303"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=456303"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=456303"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}