The Chargers, along with the majority of the other teams in the NFL, are preparing for training camp, which is slated to begin on July 28.
With teams not having spring practices, training camp will be more crucial than ever for players who are fighting for starting or roster spots.
With that being said, here are three players who need a strong outing at training camp:
WR Andre Patton
The competition for the third wide receiver spot will be one of the more compelling positional battles during training camp. While Keenan Allen and Mike Williams lead the pack, the guy behind them remains to be seen.
Last season, Patton had the opportunity to step up in the WR3 role after injuries hit the corps, but the two-year practice squad member only managed to haul in six passes for 56 yards on 17 targets in 13 games.
Now, he will have to fend off a couple of new faces that will be in contention for the spot led by draft selections Joe Reed and K.J. Hill. Patton has the upper hand with his experience and familiarity, but the rookies have the skillset to beat him out.
OT Trey Pipkins
Even though the decision to not address the left tackle position has had many scratching their heads, the coaching staff has made it clear that they like their in-house options going into training camp.
Pipkins, the team’s third-round pick from the 2019 NFL draft, wasn’t expected to take a single snap in his rookie season. However, that took a turn when Russell Okung missed quite a bit of action. Like any rookie offensive lineman, he experienced some struggles against NFL pass-rushers, but as he received more playing time, he managed to hold his own.
Sam Tevi, who will also be fighting for the starting job, could win this solely based on experience as a starter. That is why Pipkins will have to show that he has fixed his weaknesses from his last season, which include increased strength and improvement with his handwork, in order to win the spot.
RB Justin Jackson
Expected to run the ball more, the Chargers will have a competition for RB2. between Jackson and rookie Joshua Kelley. Jackson, the seventh-round pick from the 2018 NFL Draft, has averaged 5.1 yards per carry on 79 touches.
There is no denying that he can produce. The only issue is that he struggled to stay healthy last season, managing to play in only seven games. While the team is still “high” on him, Kelley, the fourth-round pick in this year’s draft, is out to win a spot and he has the skillset to do so.