Tag: Chargers roster bubble

Chargers roster bubble: Which players helped their cause in preseason Week 2

Which Chargers helped themselves as a result of their performances in Week 2 vs. the Saints? Let’s take a look at who impressed.

There’s just one week until all NFL rosters must be cut down to 53 players by 4 PM ET next Tuesday.

Unlike previous seasons, the Chargers haven’t had to make more minor cuts before creating the final roster. Many players have gotten their chance to prove themselves in the preseason. Of course, the practice squad will also be formed in addition to their 53-man roster.

Which players helped themselves the most due to their performances in Week 2 against the Saints? With one preseason game left, let’s look at who impressed.

TE Stone Smartt

Smartt led the team in receptions with four for 32 yards. Smartt leaped in the air for an acrobatic catch on a slight overthrow from Easton Stick. Later in the game, he’d throw a block to get his quarterback into the end zone on a designed run.

It’s probably still tough for Smartt to make the roster with Gerald Everett, Donald Parham, and Tre’ McKitty in front of him. On a pure merit basis, though, Smartt has been the most consistent tight end in preseason action, with Everett not playing. He’s starting to feel like a practice squad lock, even if he doesn’t make the active roster.

RT Zack Bailey

Bailey is a right tackle, as listed on the roster, but he’s been kicking inside this preseason for some reps at right guard. So far, so good. Bailey has easily been one of the best depth linemen through two games.

Bailey has 80+ PFF grades in both pass blocking and run blocking. The South Carolina product allowed just one pressure against the Saints.

Considering that the Austen Pleasants and Foster Sarell experience at the tackle spots hasn’t been much to write home about, I’ll be curious to see if Bailey gets some snaps at his natural position against the Niners on Friday.

CB Tiawan Mullen

Tiawan Mullen had a top-three Chargers’ coverage grade on PFF against the Saints. As far as the preseason goes, he’s been one of LA’s top performers in the secondary. He’s a relentless tackler despite his size.

In Sunday’s game, Mullen had a critical pass breakup on third down and was active as a special teams tackler. With the Chargers already loaded up in the secondary on the main roster, Mullen’s role on the team would primarily have to be on the practice squad. However, there’s an opportunity for him to get that chance, given Kemon Hall’s recent injury and surgery.

WR Keelan Doss

Doss has been the most steady Chargers’ depth wide receiver through two games. Many early preseason hype went to John Hightower in the receiver room as the potential breakout star to make the roster. But when the games have mattered, Doss has been the steadier performer.

Doss has six receptions for 81 yards in his first two preseason contests, 42 of which came against New Orleans on Sunday. The most impressive thing to me was how comfortable Doss looked being used in motion in the Kellen Moore offense. The Chargers did list him higher than Hightower originally on their unofficial depth chart, and it’s certainly played out that way to this point.

Making the roster will depend on the status of Jalen Guyton. Guyton is the sixth receiver if he comes off the PUP list before the season. But Doss is making a name for himself to clinch a practice squad spot or be the placeholder if Guyton is not ready by Week 1.

DT Christopher Hinton

Hinton is making a solid case to be the sixth defensive tackle on the final 53-man roster if tackle Otito Ogbonnia remains on the PUP list. On Sunday, Hinton had a sack, two pressures, and two run stops against New Orleans. He showed excellent hustle on his sack, in particular after knocking down a Saints lineman.

Hinton also played with a similar relentless motor in the first preseason game against the Rams. Assuming Ogbonnia is not ready to start the season, Hinton feels like a quiet lock to make the roster.

WR Terrell Bynum

An outstanding catch in triple coverage on 4th and 23 is certainly one way to endear yourself to both the coaching staff and Chargers fans:

Bynum is competing for one of the practice squad receiver spots, if anything, but he’s had a presence in camp. He and Hightower were both productive at the scrimmage, and he’s been consistent throughout the month.

4 Chargers on roster bubble who helped themselves in preseason loss to 49ers

Find out which Chargers players on the bubble helped their cause against the 49ers.

The Chargers were unable build off of their preseason opener victory, falling short to the 49ers by the score of 15-10.

For the most part, the presumed starters that did play didn’t see the field all that much, which left more opportunities for players that are fighting for a roster spot to prove themselves to the coaching staff.

With that being said, let’s take a look at four bubble players who helped their cause on Sunday evening.

QB Easton Stick

In nearly all of my 53-man roster projections, Stick has been the odd-man out while Chase Daniel has been given the nod. But he might have moved the needle a little bit with his outing. The third-year player out of North Dakota State was not all that efficient in the early going, considering the majority of his passes were check downs. Eventually, Stick connected with Jalen Guyton for a 39-yard completion. It didn’t help that the offensive line did him no favors, but Stick mitigated that by using his legs to buy more time to throw the ball, including his lone touchdown pass to Josh Palmer.

EDGE Jessie Lemonier

With Chris Rumph II and Emeke Egbule sidelined, Lemonier had more opportunities to prove himself. Using his pass-rush repertoire, first step explosiveness and motor, Lemonier posted four tackles, two quarterback pressures and a sack on Trey Lance in the third quarter. If the Chargers decide to keep five edge defenders, his performances could very well earn him the last spot.

DT Willie Yarbary

For the second week in a row, the team’s interior defensive line flashed. On Sunday evening, Yarbary, a former Wake Forest product who recently played in The Spring League, was among the crop who stood out. Yarbary posted three run stops, one of which was a monstrous hit on Wayne Gallman.

DT Forrest Merrill

Behind Linval Joseph, the nose tackle depth is rather thin. But Merrill showed why he could be a viable option to back him up. Consistently getting penetration and eating up double teams, Merrill was a force to be a reckoned with. There should be a role for him on the active roster.

4 Chargers on roster bubble who helped themselves in preseason opener

With the majority of the starters on the sideline, a few Chargers players on the bubble helped their cases.

The Chargers took care of business to open up the three-game preseason slate, defeating the Rams by the score of 13-6.

For the most part, the presumed starters that did play didn’t see the field all that much, which left more opportunities for players that are fighting for a roster spot to prove themselves to the coaching staff.

With that being said, let’s take a look at four bubble players who helped their cause on Sunday night.

CB John Brannon

The Chargers are set with Michael Davis, Chris Harris Jr., Asante Samuel Jr., but there are a couple spots on the back end that need to be filled, and Brannon made his case with his outing. Heading into the game as the leader in interceptions in training camp with three, Brannon put himself at the top in the category in preseason play after picking off Devlin Hodges on a fourth-down play from the Bolts’ five-yard line that would’ve tied the game.

CB Kemon Hall

Brannon wasn’t the only one who stood out in the secondary. Hall also helped himself by making plays in all phases. Hall and Alohi Gilman caused a fumble. Serving as an additional blizter, Hall also generated a quarterback pressure to Bryce Perkins that forced him to throw the ball away. The play right after, he broke up a pass on third down. It was a great day for both players who head coach Brandon Staley has lauded throughout the summer.

DL Joe Gaziano

Throughout camp, all the attention has been drawn to Breiden Fehoko and Cortez Broughton as the guys fighting for a spot. But Gaziano gave us a reminder that he is not to be forgotten. After playing on the outside in his first two seasons, the move inside highlighted his strengths. Winning with heavy hands, strength and high effort, Gaziano applied interior pressure on a few occasions and a couple run stops behind the line of scrimmage. Undrafted free agent Forrest Merrill also flashed with a tackle for loss.

WR Jason Moore

If the Chargers go into the regular season with six wide receivers, there’s one spot that will need to be filled, assuming the first five are Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Josh Palmer, Jalen Guyton and Tyron Johnson. Yesterday, it was Moore who helped his stock. With balls thrown to him in tight coverage and out of his reach, Moore still managed to catch all three of his targets for 31 yards.