These 45 will be Chargers. Saturday’s preseason game against Seattle will help determine the remaining eight
The 2018 preseason is serving three distinct purposes for the Chargers.
Purpose No. 1, and the foremost: Getting the roster as ready as possible for the opening week of the regular season. After starting 0-4 a year ago, the Chargers can’t limp through the first few weeks before gaining their stride.
And speaking of limps, Purpose No. 2 is to try to stay as healthy as possible. It’s why almost every single starter was given Wednesday off, and why those regulars barely saw the field in the first preseason game — and won’t step a foot on it in the last.
That brings us to Purpose No. 3: Determining who should go and who should stay at the bottom of the roster. They’ll need to reduce to 53, and figuring who is going to fill those spots is like putting together a puzzle.
With camp more than halfway done and heading into the second preseason test, Saturday at home against Seattle, we’ve uncovered enough clues to crack that puzzle.
Assuming health remains the same, here are 45 players who almost certainly will be Chargers on opening day:
Quarterbacks (2) — Philip Rivers, Geno Smith: Smith seems like the safest choice to back up Rivers. He is a former starter good enough to have played in 35 NFL games. Cardale Jones, who also is battling for the No. 2 spot, has played in one. The fewer the questions the better when it comes to a backup quarterback, and Smith is the more known commodity. Depending on how the final numbers shake out, the Chargers could keep Jones as a third quarterback if he shows enough potential.
Running backs (3) — Melvin Gordon, Austin Ekeler, Derek Watt: This is one of the positions where a backup spot is up for grabs. Gordon and Ekeler are the one-two punch in the backfield, and Watt is a valuable special teams player with some potential to be more of a factor in the passing game. Either Justin Jackson or Detrez Newsome seems to be the best bet to gain a spot, and if they contribute on special teams both could remain.
Wide receivers (4) — Keenan Allen, Tyrell Williams, Travis Benjamin, Mike Williams: The foursome is one of the best in the NFL, with Mike Williams surging in his first full camp as a professional. Benjamin is a valuable punt returner and a deep threat, Tyrell Williams is evolving into a more well-rounded receiver, and Allen is one of the best in the NFL. The battles for the final receiver spots are the most contested in camp with Artavis Scott, Geremy Davis and injured sixth-round pick Dylan Cantrell all owning strong cases.
Tight Ends (1) — Virgil Green: As of now, there’s only one tight end in camp that’s a lock to make the initial 53, and it’s Green. This is as wide open of a positional battle as exists in camp, with Antonio Gates lurking in the free-agency shadows. Sean Culkin has work to do, but seems to be the most likely of the current crop to secure a spot.
Offensive line (9) — Russell Okung, Dan Feeney, Mike Pouncey, Michael Schofield, Joe Barksdale, Forrest Lamp, Sam Tevi, Spencer Pulley, Scott Quessenberry: This could be the final group. The team opened last season with just eight offensive linemen on the roster, thanks to the versatility of Schofield, Pulley and Quessenberry. If one of the Chargers’ undrafted tackles impresses in the final three weeks, there could be a spot for him.
Defensive line (8) — Joey Bosa, Melvin Ingram, Brandon Mebane, Darius Philon, Damion Square, Isaac Rochell, Justin Jones, Christopher Landrum: The Chargers will add a ninth defensive lineman, Corey Liuget, after his four-game suspension ends. This is essentially the same group from last year, with Landrum replacing Chris McCain, and third-round pick Justin Jones adding bulk up the middle … once he recovers from an ankle injury.
Linebackers (7) — Denzel Perryman, Jatavis Brown, Uchenna Nwosu, Kyzir White, Kyle Emmanuel, Hayes Pullard, Nick Dzubnar: Nwosu and White could end up as starters — with Nwosu doubling as a defensive lineman in pass-rush situations — but that could take some time, meaning Emmanuel and Brown could be in the first 11 for a few weeks. This is a position where an under-the-radar player can shine on special teams and steal a spot.
Cornerbacks (5) — Casey Hayward, Trevor Williams, Desmond King, Jaylen Watkins, Michael Davis: The Chargers will add one or more to this group, which became thin with Jason Verrett’s Achilles injury. Davis’ skills have been impressive in his second training camp, along with his optimal size for the position. Craig Mager, who spent last year on the practice squad, has had a strong camp too.
Safeties (4) — Jahleel Addae, Rayshawn Jenkins, Derwin James, Adrian Phillips: All four should see the field in different situations, though all might be best suited to play close to the line of scrimmage. Watkins is also an option to play some safety.
Special teams (3) — Drew Kaser, Mike Windt: The Chargers know their long snapper. They know their punter. Their kicker? That’s still to be determined, right Caleb Sturgis and Roberto Aguayo?
Including a placekicker that’s 46 players, leaving seven spots. One will be a running back and another a wide receiver. We know two more tight ends will be needed.
That leaves three spots to be split between, perhaps, a third quarterback, a sixth cornerback, a sixth wide receiver, a fourth running back, a fourth tight end, an extra offensive tackle, an extra defensive lineman and a special-teams oriented linebacker.
And it’s up to the Chargers to find the right pieces and make sure they all fit.
Twitter: @DanWoikeSports
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