The preseason finale is set for Saturday night, as the Chargers will take on the Seahawks at Lumen Stadium in Seattle, WA.
Here’s a closer look at the top positional battles ahead of Los Angeles’ matchup against Seattle.
Backup quarterback
Despite Easton Stick outperforming Chase Daniel this summer, I’m still a believer that Daniel has the advantage due to his experience in this league, familiarity with Joe Lombardi’s offense and mentorship for Justin Herbert. What this could ultimately come down to is Stick’s performance to potentially have the coaching staff consider keeping three quarterbacks on the roster.
Running back
In somewhat of a surprise, it’s been rookie Larry Rountree who’s been the highlight of the backfield. Aside from him, Darius Bradwell has raised eyebrows as a runner and contributions on special teams. Could Bradwell sneak into one of the four spots? It’s certainly possible, knowing Justin Jackson has still struggled to stay healthy and Joshua Kelley hasn’t produced much on the ground.
Wide receiver
There are five spots that are presumably filled, with those being by Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Josh Palmer, Jalen Guyton and Tyron Johnson. Assuming the team keeps six wideouts, it’s up for grabs between K.J. Hill, Joe Reed, Jason Moore, John Hurst and Michael Bandy. I believe Hill has a slight leg up, given the fact that he’s been the first-team return specialist during the preseason.
Swing tackle
This was a position battle that flew under the radar heading into the summer because the Chargers had their starters solidified, yet the lack of depth was always evident. It became very clear last weekend when Trey Pipkins and Storm Norton had no answers for the 49ers pass rushers. Even head coach Brandon Staley noted it. Someone needs to step up or else this could be a serious issue this season.