The Chargers are just days away from opening the Jim Harbaugh era against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. After churning the bottom of the roster with an urgency rarely seen from the franchise, Harbaugh and general manager Joe Hortiz have set the roster for Week 1.
A depth chart has yet to be released, however. Here’s a look at what it might look like on defense when it comes out, from starters to backups.
Defensive line
| Starter | Backup | |
| DE | Morgan Fox | Justin Eboigbe |
| NT | Poona Ford | Teair Tart |
| DT | Otito Ogbonnia | Scott Matlock |
Tart may end up starting sooner rather than later, and he should still play a decent amount on Sunday. But with only a few weeks under his belt as a Charger, he’ll likely start the season as a backup. Fox, Ford, and Ogbonnia were established as the starters before Tart arrived. Matlock got some work with the first team and will rotate in as well. Eboigbe had a quiet rookie preseason but will provide much-needed depth.
Edge rusher
| Starter | Backup | |
| EDGE | Khalil Mack | Tuli Tuipulotu |
| EDGE | Joey Bosa | Bud Dupree |
Mack and Bosa will return fully healthy after 2023 limited the snaps the duo saw together. Bosa had a club removed from his broken left hand at practice on Monday, setting the pair up for the start on Sunday. Tuipulotu will see plenty of work in his second season after a strong rookie season and will be on the field in three rusher sets. Dupree will rotate in as a veteran presence and designated rusher as well.
Linebacker
| Starter | Backup | |
| LB1 | Denzel Perryman | Junior Colson |
| LB2 | Daiyan Henley | Troy Dye |
With Nick Niemann on injured reserve, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Chargers elevate Shaquille Quarterman off the practice squad for Sunday’s game. Perryman hardly played in the preseason as LA’s top linebacker after returning to the franchise from Houston. Henley has been the second linebacker in camp and will likely stay on the field for dime sets. Colson missed a portion of camp with appendicitis and will rotate in to begin the season, but may start sooner than later. Dye will primarily add value on special teams.
Secondary
| Starter | Backup | |
| CB1 | Asante Samuel Jr. | Deane Leonard |
| CB2 | Kristian Fulton | Cam Hart |
| SLOT | Ja’Sir Taylor | Tarheeb Still |
| S1 | Derwin James Jr. | Elijah Molden |
| S2 | Alohi Gilman | AJ Finley |
Samuel and Fulton have been set as the starters since Fulton signed with the Chargers in free agency. Leonard had an impressive preseason and will be the first corner off the bench. Hart missed part of camp with an injury and had an up-and-down preseason.
In the slot, Taylor will retain the job with Still serving as depth. The rookie can also play on the outside and will step in there if needed. James and Molden will also take snaps in the slot depending on alignment.
James and Gilman are set as the starters at safety after Gilman signed an extension with the Chargers this offseason. James will be deployed in his usual versatile role, which will leave snaps on the back end for Molden and Finley on the back end. Finley grabbed the third safety spot in training camp, but LA traded for Molden after roster cuts after he started eight games at safety for the Titans in 2023.