Even though we likely won’t see much of the starters for the Chargers in the preseason opener against the Rams, there will still be enough to keep your eyes on Saturday night.
With that being said, here are three players on the offensive side of the ball to watch for when the two Los Angeles teams clash in SoFi Stadium, eager to make statements.
OT Rashawn Slater
The Chargers struck gold with quarterback Justin Herbert and now they must protect him at all costs to keep his longevity. Up to this point at training camp, Slater has lived up to his first round billing, holding his own against the elite edge defender, Joey Bosa.
Confirmed by head coach Brandon Staley that he will play in the opener, Slater will have the opportunity to showcase to the nation why he’s generated a great amount of buzz and a glimpse of a potential Pro Bowl tackle, even if it’s against second and third-team pass rushers.
RB Joshua Kelley
The battle in the backfield is one of the most compelling storylines heading into the three-game preseason slate. With Austin Ekeler not set to play at all and Justin Jackson likely to be on limited snaps, there will be an audition for the backup spot behind them between Kelley and rookie Larry Rountree.
After an underwhelming rookie season, Kelley has shown signs of improvement in camp, especially in the passing game. There’s no denying his potential, but Kelley must put it all together and display more confidence as a runner and that he can be an asset on special teams.
WR Josh Palmer
Palmer, the team’s third round pick, has been one of the better wideouts at camp, showing the ability to consistently get open at all three levels of the field even against the top corners and catching everything thrown his way.
Looking to establish himself as a reliable rookie, Palmer will have plenty of opportunities on the field to show his polished skill set and impressive size could make him a dangerous complementary target, even in a deep receiver room.