Did left guard Kayode Awosika win the starting position after an intriguing training camp competition with as many as four others? Did quarterback Trey Lance perform well enough during camp and in three preseason games, including Thursday night against the Rams, to win the backup’s job behind starter Justin Herbert?
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All will be revealed Sunday, when NFL teams must trim their training camp rosters to a league-mandated 53 players. Here’s a closer look at the Chargers’ projected 53-man roster, with a reminder that who they start with is likely to change dramatically as the 2026 season unfolds:
QUARTERBACK (2)
Projected starter: Justin Herbert. Projected backup: Trey Lance. Herbert will be playing under his fifth offensive coordinator in his seven NFL seasons, but he said he adapted to Mike McDaniel’s scheme quickly and without hesitation. Lance’s experience and mobility give him the edge over DJ Uiagalelei, who will likely stick around as the practice squad quarterback.
RUNNING BACK (4)
Projected starter: Omarion Hampton. Projected backups: Keaton Mitchell, Kimani Vidal, Alec Ingold (fullback). An ankle injury limited Hampton to 545 yards in nine games last season. The key to a successful run game is keeping Hampton healthy. Ingold, a free agent who spent the past four seasons with McDaniel with the Miami Dolphins, is an upgrade from Scott Matlock at fullback.
WIDE RECEIVER (6)
Projected starters: Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, Tre’ Harris. Projected backups: KeAndre Lambert-Smith, Derius Davis, Brenen Thompson. Conventional wisdom suggests the Chargers need more experienced depth at wide receiver in order to give Herbert the targets he needs to be successful. They decide to roll with a fairly young wide receiver group.
TIGHT END (3)
Projected starter: Charlie Kolar. Projected backups: Oronde Gadsden, David Njoku. Kolar, who was known as a blocking tight end while with the Baltimore Ravens, will be asked to catch passes more often with the Chargers. Gadsden and Njoku gives Herbert additional targets.
OFFENSIVE LINE (10)
Projected starters: Rashawn Slater, Kayode Awosika, Jake Slaughter, Cole Strange, Joe Alt. Projected backups: Trey Pipkins III, Travis Burke, Trevor Penning, Jacob Spomer, Branson Taylor. Tyler Biadasz’s season-ending knee injury opened the door for Slaughter, a rookie, to start at center. Slater and Alt are said to be 100% after suffering season-ending injuries in 2025.
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DEFENSIVE LINE (5)
Projected starters: Teair Tart, Dalvin Tomlinson. Projected backups: Jamaree Caldwell, Justin Eboigbe, Nick Barrett. The Chargers wasted zero time in retaining Tart, re-signing him in January, before any of their other free agents. Tomlinson was another addition, signing in March.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS (5)
Projected starters: Khalil Mack, Tuli Tuipulotu, Ahkeem Mesidor. Projected backups: Bud Dupree, Kyle Kennard. Mesidor was the Chargers’ first-round pick, and he showed why during training camp. He’s expected to fill a role vacated by Odafe Oweh, who signed with the Washington Commanders. Mack is back for his 13th NFL season, his fifth with the Chargers.
INSIDE LINEBACKERS (5)
Projected starters: Daiyan Henley, Denzel Perryman. Projected backups: Junior Colson, Troy Dye, Del’Shawn Phillips. Now in his fourth season, Henley has grown into a role as a team leader. Colson is back to form after sitting out all of last season because of a shoulder injury. Marlowe Wax would be another option if Colson doesn’t make the initial 53-man roster.
CORNERBACKS (5)
Projected starters: Tarheeb Still, Donte Jackson. Projected backups: Cam Hart, Deane Leonard, Avery Smith. The competition was strong at this position during camp. Leonard is a top special teams player and Smith was an undrafted free agent.
SAFETIES (5)
Projected starters: Derwin James Jr., Elijah Molden. Projected backups: Tony Jefferson, RJ Mickens, Kendall Williamson. James will continue in his role as a rover, with Molden and Jefferson set to be the third safety in most situations in new defensive coordinator Chris O’Leary’s scheme. Genesis Smith, a fourth-round pick from Arizona, could make the cut ahead of Williamson.
SPECIALISTS (3)
Projected starters: Cameron Dicker (kicker), JK Scott (punter/holder), Josh Harris (long snapper). The three have been together since the middle of the 2022 season, and there seems to be no reason to break them up. Dicker’s field-goal percentage rate of 93.5% (129 of 138 with the Philadelphia Eagles and the Chargers) is the highest in NFL history with a minimum of 100 kicks.
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