Practice squad players benefit from being able to learn the system, which could then give them the upper hand when attempting to make the final 53-man roster.
With that being said, here are three Chargers players from the practice squad to keep an eye on when training camp starts on July 27:
LB Malik Jefferson
Things are looking up for the linebacker position after the outstanding rookie season by Drue Tranquill and the first-round pick used on Kenneth Murray. However, the depth behind those two isn’t as superior as they would like it to be.
The Bengals selected Jefferson in the third-round of the 2018 NFL Draft. In his rookie season, he primarily played on special teams before having his season cut short. He was let go of in August of 2019 before being signed by the Browns. Cleveland released him in November, which then led to Los Angeles signing him to the practice squad.
In a press conference, general manager Tom Telesco said that they were fans of Jefferson coming out of college, indicating that they were pleased to sign him when they did. Coach Anthony Lynn said that Jefferson would primarily be used as a MIKE linebacker. Given how thin the linebacker and special teams depth is, he has a real shot to crack the 53-man roster.
DT PJ Johnson
Johnson was selected by the Lions in the seventh-round of the 2019 NFL draft. He was with the team throughout the preseason, but was released on cutdown day. The former Arizona product was signed to Los Angeles’ practice squad last December.
Johnson, the humongous defensive lineman, has great upper body strength to dispose blockers and make an impact against the pass and run. The 6-foot-4 and 335 pound nose tackle finished his collegiate career with 31 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and three sacks.
The nose tackle position was addressed with the signing of Linval Joseph and re-signing of Damion Square. That doesn’t mean the work ends there. Last season, the Chargers carried three on the roster, which means Johnson could eventually occupy the final spot.
CB Quenton Meeks
It was thought that the Chargers were going to bring in a cornerback this offseason to compete with Michael Davis and Brandon Facyson on the opposite side of Casey Hayward. However, they swayed away from the position other than signing Chris Harris, Jr.
After a successful collegiate career with Stanford, Meeks was signed by the Jaguars as an undrafted free agent in 2018. He spent some time on the practice squad before being promoted to the active roster. There, he amassed eight tackles and two passes defensed.
Prior to the 2019 season, Meeks was released by Jacksonville. A month later, he signed to Los Angeles’ practice squad.
Meeks, the 6-foot-2 and 197 pound corner, plays with reaction skills, intelligence and toughness, projecting best in a Cover 3 system. His skillset, on-field demeanor and hustle are all traits that should be highly coveted by the coaching staff to make the team as a depth piece and special teams ace.