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Chargers 53-man roster projection: Final prediction before cutdown day

Here’s one final guess at what the initial Chargers 53-man roster will look like.

Training camp and preseason play are over, so now the Chargers coaching staff will use them as their resources to get the roster from 91 players to 53 ahead of the 2024 regular season.

The team will have until 1 p.m. PT on Tuesday to make their cuts.

With that being said, here is our final projection of what we believe the initial roster will look like.

Quarterback (2): Justin Herbert, Easton Stick

Stick had the opportunity all summer to show he’s a serviceable backup, but he failed to do so. I believe he will make the initial roster, but Joe Hortiz and Jim Harbaugh will see which quarterbacks are available once cuts are made and end up signing one and letting go of Stick.

Running back (4): Gus Edwards, J.K. Dobbins, Jaret Patterson, Kimani Vidal

No changes from my last projection. Despite being a mainstay on special teams, Isaiah Spiller did not do much on the ground. Patterson was a summer standout. Vidal was productive upon returning from his injury, rushing for 49 yards on 11 carries against the Rams in Week 2.

Wide receiver (6): Josh Palmer, Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, D.J. Chark, Derius Davis, Simi Fehoko

No changes. Fehoko capped off an impressive summer with a 78-yard touchdown against the Cowboys. Brenden Rice stood out in training camp, but the same thing can’t be said about his performances in the preseason, mainly due to the lackluster quarterback play. Rice is worthy of a spot. He is a sharp route runner who blocks his tail off. But I can’t see the Chargers rostering seven wideouts.

Tight end (3): Will Dissly, Hayden Hurst, Stone Smartt

Sometimes the best ability is availability, and that does not apply to Donald Parham, who’s struggled to stay healthy. He has also not improved as a blocker, something the Chargers want from their tight ends. Meanwhile, Smartt has improved in this department. He will also make his money on special teams.

Offensive line (9): Rashawn Slater, Zion Johnson, Bradley Bozeman, Trey Pipkins, Joe Alt, Brenden Jaimes, Jamaree Salyer, Jordan McFadden, Foster Sarell

No changes.

Edge rusher (5): Khalil Mack, Joey Bosa, Tuli Tuipulotu, Bud Dupree, Tre’Mon Morris-Brash

I have the Chargers starting the season with five edge rushers. Chris Rumph II would’ve been given the nod after having a great summer. Unfortunately, he is dealing with a foot injury and I believe he will begin the season on the injured reserve. Morris-Brash showed some real juice as a pass rusher in training camp and preseason. He capped off his summer with a pick-six against the Cowboys.

Interior defensive line (6): Poona Ford, Morgan Fox, Teair Tart, Scott Matlock, Otito Ogbonnia, Justin Eboigbe

No changes. Eboigbe was practically nonexistent during camp and preseason. But the team used a fairly high draft pick on him, and playing defensive tackle in this league as a rookie is a learning curve so I believe he is safe.

Linebacker (5): Denzel Perryman, Junior Colson, Daiyan Henley, Nick Niemann, Troy Dye

No changes.

Cornerback (6): Asante Samuel Jr., Kristian Fulton, Ja’Sir Taylor, Deane Leonard, Tarheeb Still, Cam Hart

No changes.

Safety (4): Derwin James, Alohi Gilman, AJ Finley, JT Woods

Tony Jefferson had the best performance of the preseason against the Cowboys, finishing with 14 tackles, two interceptions, a sack and a forced fumble. But I believe it was a little too late to warrant a roster spot. I expect him to land on the practice squad as he is not subject to waivers if he’s released. Finley played his way to being the third safety. Woods makes the squad, as he showed signs of improvement and intrigued as an outside cornerback, the position he transitioned to toward the end of the summer.

Specialists (3): K Cameron Dicker, P J.K. Scott, LS Josh Harris

No changes.

Chargers’ Derrick Ansley on Derwin James being sidelined: ‘It was a coaching error’

There was a lot of confusion surrounding Derwin James’ lack of snaps against the Bills.

Much was made about Derwin James’ absence on a 3rd and 8 play in last Saturday’s loss to the Bills in which Stefon Diggs was able to ice the game.

Chargers defensive coordinator Derrick Ansley said it was an error rather than a benching.

We didn’t pull him. We went into the game playing different STARS in different packages, and the play call that came out did not have him in the game which, at that moment, I wish I would have called a better play and had him in the game.

On James specifically not being on the field on that play:

We went into the game wanting to move some people around, give us the best chance to matchup. In that situation, you’d love to have Derwin on the field. We should have had him on the field. That is totally on me, I mismanaged that. It was going fast, just mismanaged on my part. Nothing against Derwin. It had nothing to do with his ability. It was just a coaching error.

While it’s believable that the Chargers may have simply not called the rotations correctly at STAR in that moment, it’s hard to fully buy that play changing the macro of story of James’ night. Even if he had played that down, 42 snaps would’ve still been a career low for him, excluding injuries.

With James effectively being relegated to slot cornerback and box roles in the current defense, it’s still fair to wonder about his future. Is this the role James wants for himself long term? Is the former Florida State product’s current usage in the scheme something a new general manager or head coach will want to replicate?

James and Ansley will both try to finish out the season strong in the last two weeks against Denver and Kansas City.

Chargers final 53-man roster projection for 2022 season

Here’s one final guess at what the initial Chargers 53-man roster might look like.

Training camp and preseason play are over, so the Chargers’ coaching staff will use them as their resources to get the roster from 80 players to 53 ahead of the 2022 season.

The team will have until 1 pm on Tuesday to make their cuts.

With that being said, here is our final projection of what we believe the initial roster will look like:

Quarterback (3): Justin Herbert, Chase Daniel, Easton Stick

No change here. Daniel and Stick are still in a battle for the primary backup spot. Stick has been the better quarterback for most of the preseason but struggles with ball placement and had a bad game Friday against the Saints. Daniel brings veteran experience to the position that the team values.

Running back (4): Austin Ekeler, Joshua Kelley, Isaiah Spiller, Larry Rountree III

As much as I’d hate for the team to keep four running backs, it seems like a formality with the Spiller ankle injury last week against the Cowboys. However, Rountree got more involved in the passing game against the Saints, and it looks like he will have a role. He and Kelley are also starting special teamers.

Fullback (1): Zander Horvath

Gabe Nabers has been practicing as a tight end because of injuries at the position, but that should tell you that Horvath has this job all but locked up.

Wide receiver (5): Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Joshua Palmer, DeAndre Carter, Jalen Guyton

It pains me to leave preseason standout Michael Bandy off the 53, but I think there isn’t room for him if the team keeps three QBs and four RBs. Bandy is also limited to the slot where Allen, Palmer, and Carter can all produce as well. All five of the receivers projected to make the 53 will have a defined role on offense, with Carter and Guyton playing key roles on special teams.

Tight end (3): Gerald Everett, Donald Parham, Tre’ McKitty

Keeping it at three tight ends here because it seems like Parham will be ready to go by Week 1. While Hunter Kampmoyer has been a special teams starter, he fumbled on Friday against the Saints. If they can’t or don’t cross-train Horvath to play some tight end, I expect LA to make another addition after IR and PUP moves, whether Kampmoyer or an outside addition.

Offensive line (9): Rashawn Slater, Matt Feiler, Corey Linsley, Zion Johnson, Trey Pipkins, Storm Norton, Jamaree Salyer, Will Clapp, Brenden Jaimes

The starting five is set with Pipkins winning the right tackle competition against Norton, who will be the swing tackle. Slater, Feiler, and Linsley haven’t played a single snap of preseason action, and for a good reason. All three will be standouts this season. Johnson has looked as advertised in his preseason action. Salyer has been the most impressive lineman of the preseason and should be the primary backup at guard. The last two spots are contentious between Clapp, Jaimes and Ryan Hunter. Ultimately, I think they like Clapp’s ability to play center and guard and Jaimes’ ability to fill in at right tackle, if necessary.

Defensive line (6): Sebastian Joseph-Day, Austin Johnson, Morgan Fox, Otito Ogbonnia, Jerry Tillery, Breiden Fehoko

I kept Tillery off the past few projections, but the Chargers not playing him in the preseason finale all but indicated that he will make the team. While he continued to struggle against the run, Tillery will likely be given a role that plays to his strengths where he strictly rushes the quarterback. Fehoko has done plenty to earn a roster spot. He has been strong against the run since Day 1, but he showed improvement as a pass rusher this summer.

Edge rusher (3): Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack, Chris Rumph II

As much as Jamal Davis and Carlo Kemp made their cases to earn a roster spot throughout camp, I think Kyle Van Noy will be relegated to the fourth edge defender, in addition to his duties at inside linebacker. If the Chargers lose one of their top three players at the position, Van Noy could transition to an edge rusher.

Linebacker (5): Kyle Van Noy, Drue Tranquill, Kenneth Murray Jr., Troy Reeder, Nick Niemann

I went back and forth between keeping six linebackers but decided to use the extra spot for the secondary. Amen Ogbongbemiga logged over 100 defensive snaps, including two starts, and played on special teams more towards the end of the 2021 season. If it comes down to it, I think the team favors Niemann’s special teams prowess over Ogbongbemiga, as he finished with 14 special teams tackles on coverage units last season, which tied for fourth-most in the NFL. Then again, I wouldn’t be surprised if they both make the squad.

Cornerback (6): JC Jackson, Asante Samuel Jr., Bryce Callahan, Michael Davis, Ja’Sir Taylor, Deane Leonard

In my recent projections, I kept five cornerbacks. But the reason why I believe the Chargers roster six is because of Jackson’s injury that could keep him out of the first two games of the season. The team does not have depth along the boundary, and that’s what Leonard would supply. While he struggled to get his head around to make plays on the football, he still showed the ability to stay in phase with receivers. His mistakes are correctable, and I believe Leonard could develop into a decent depth piece.

Safety (5): Derwin James Jr., Nasir Adderley, JT Woods, Alohi Gilman, Mark Webb

After standing out early in camp, Webb did not take a single snap in the preseason due to a calf issue. After undergoing knee surgery, Webb missed the final nine games of his rookie season in 2021. While not ideal for someone who struggles to stay on the field, the team is still high on Webb, and they believe he can be reliable depth across multiple positions in the secondary.

Specialists (3): K Dustin Hopkins, P J.K. Scott, LS Josh Harris

No changes made here.