Analyzing Chargers’ initial 53-man roster: Unfinished product includes no long snapper

The Los Angeles Chargers announced their initial 53-man roster Tuesday, following the cutdown deadline.

Emphasis on initial.

The roster feels incomplete, and additional moves are likely ahead for coach Jim Harbaugh and general manager Joe Hortiz. They do not have a full-time long snapper on the roster. They only have eight rostered offensive linemen — and that is after making a trade for a tackle on cutdown day.

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Hortiz has talked about bottom-of-the-roster churn. That is one thing. Finishing an unfinished product is another entirely. And as the roster stands, the Chargers are more in the latter bucket then the former.

Let’s break down the initial roster.

the initial 53 🫡 pic.twitter.com/HVrxljZtDA — Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) August 27, 2025

Quarterbacks (2)

Who’s out: Taylor Heinicke, DJ Uiagalelei

Lance won the backup job pretty convincingly during training camp and the preseason. The Chargers wanted more competition behind Herbert, who has dealt with injuries the past three seasons. And they achieved that by bringing Lance into the fold. The Chargers could have kept Heinicke on the initial 53-man and searched for a trade partner in the days ahead. But they ultimately needed those roster spots elsewhere — primarily to hang onto some promising young defensive talent.

Trey Lance’s strong preseason secured the No. 2 quarterback job over Taylor Heinicke. (Sergio Estrada / Imagn Images)

Running backs (3)

Who’s out: Raheim Sanders, Kimani Vidal, Jaret Patterson, Nyheim Miller-Hines

Harris comes off the non-football injury list and is on the 53-man roster. Harris, who injured his eye in a July 4 fireworks accident, did not practice in training camp. The next big question: Will Harris be ready for Week 1 in nine days, when the Chargers play the Kansas City Chiefs in Brazil? If Harris had started the season on NFI, he would have been forced to miss the first four games of the season. Harris starting the season on the 53-man indicates that the Chargers are optimistic he can play sometime in the first four games. They only kept two other running backs. Sanders and Vidal are both subject to waivers, so they could be claimed by another team before midday Wednesday. Patterson was waived with an injury designation. If he clears waivers, he would revert to season-long IR. Patterson could then negotiate an injury settlement if he wants to sign with another team and play this season. Miller-Hines is a vested veteran, so he immediately hits free agency.

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Fullback (1)

No player really challenged Matlock for the starting fullback role at any point in training camp. Matlock has two-way flexibility as a fullback and defensive lineman. However, the Chargers did end up keeping six defensive linemen — who we will get to shortly. As long as that group stays healthy, there should not be many defensive snaps available for Matlock. Last season, Matlock played 362 offensive snaps and 137 defensive snaps, and those came while he was really learning offense on the fly. He did not even start working as a fullback and tight end until late in training camp. The majority of Matlock’s snaps will be on offense. Matlock himself said earlier this month that offense will be his “priority” this season. So his snap splits could lean even more heavily to offense as compared to 2024.

Receivers (6)

Who’s out: Jalen Reagor, Jaylen Johnson, Brenden Rice, Luke Grimm, Dalevon Campbell, Jaquae Jackson

This group felt pretty airtight after the Chargers signed Allen earlier this month. McConkey, Allen and Johnston enter the season as the starting trio. Harris and Lambert-Smith should be pushing for snaps, however.

Tight ends (4)

Who’s out: Stevo Klotz, Thomas Yassmin

There are two potential reasons Fisk made the roster. One, he is a functional run blocker, and that is a coveted skill in a Greg Roman offense. Dissly is a very good run blocker. Conklin and Gadsden bring more as pass catchers than run blockers. Fisk gives the Chargers more depth and flexibility in the run game. Two, the Chargers do not have a long snapper on the roster. Josh Harris was placed on injured reserve Tuesday with the designation to return. That means he must miss at least the first four games of the season. Harris was injured in the Chargers’ final preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers. Fisk replaced Harris at long snapper for the fourth quarter. The Chargers should be making a move for a full-time long snapper as soon as possible. But Fisk provides protection in the meantime.

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Offensive line (8)

Who’s out: Nash Jones, Josh Kaltenberger, Karsen Barnhart, Corey Stewart, Ryan Nelson, David Sharpe, Branson Taylor

The preseason film showed the Chargers only had seven NFL-caliber offensive linemen on the 90-man roster, and it appears Harbaugh and Hortiz agreed with that assessment. The seven linemen from the 90-man who made the 53-man: Alt, Johnson, Bozeman, Becton, Pipkins, Salyer and James. The Chargers added an eighth offensive lineman Tuesday, sending a conditional 2027 seventh-round pick to the Houston Texans for Deculus, a 2022 sixth-round pick. Deculus has played 68 career regular-season snaps, all at left tackle. He has also played right tackle in the preseason. He could potentially fill the vacant swing-tackle role. What is missing is more interior depth, especially after Becton, the projected starting right guard, missed three weeks of training camp. Salyer has flexibility at left and right guard, along with left tackle. James is primarily a center. If the Chargers make another move in this room, it will likely be for a guard.

Defensive line (6)

Who’s out: Christopher Hinton, TeRah Edwards, Nesta Jade Silvera

All six of these defensive linemen earned their spots this training camp and preseason, and they all have a chance to be active on game days. Hortiz did well to rebuild this room after losing Poona Ford and Morgan Fox in free agency. Fox is now available after being cut by Atlanta Falcons, but the Chargers were determined this offseason to get bigger along the defensive front. Fox does not fit into that vision. Defensive line coach Mike Elston also deserves a ton of credit for developing younger players like Ogbonnia, Eboigbe and Caldwell.

Edge rushers (5)

Who’s out: Tre’Mon Morris-Brash, Kylan Guidry, Garmon Randolph

Murphy played himself onto the roster with an outstanding training camp and preseason, both as an edge rusher on defense and as a special teams coverage player. He should be a core-four player for special teams coordinator Ryan Ficken this season. Kennard, for now, appears to be the odd man out in terms of the game-day roster. Kennard, a fourth-round pick, has potential, but he has not yet flashed as a pass rusher. And Murphy is a far superior special teams player. Murphy also has more experience in Ficken’s system, after spending time on the practice squad last season.

Caleb Murphy, celebrating a preseason sack with Jamaree Caldwell, earned his role as the fourth edge rusher. (Kirby Lee / Imagn Images)

Linebackers (4)

Who’s out: Del’Shawn Phillips, Kana’i Mauga, Emany Johnson

Other: Junior Colson (season-long IR)

The big surprise: Colson is out for the season. The Chargers drafted Colson in the third round in 2024. He was an impact player on Jesse Minter and Harbaugh’s Michigan defense that helped lead the Wolverines to a national title in 2023. In the NFL, Colson just has not been able to stay on the field. He had an appendectomy last summer that forced him to miss the start of camp. He went on IR during the season with an ankle injury. Now Colson’s second season is over before it even started. When he has been on the field, Colson has looked overeager and, as a result, out of the position too often. It is hard not to look back on the 2024 draft and see what else the Chargers could have done with this top-70 pick, especially on the interior of the offensive line. The 49ers’ Dominick Puni and the Arizona Cardinals’ Isaiah Adams have both carved out starting roles at guard. The Dallas Cowboys’ Cooper Beebe and Indianapolis Colts’ Tanor Bortolini are both starters at center.

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The Chargers signed Phillips in free agency because of his special teams experience, but he missed virtually all of camp. Wax played his way onto the roster with a standout training camp and preseason.

Safety (5)

Who’s out: Jaylen Jones, Tony Jefferson

Jefferson made the 53-man roster last year while he was still playing his way into football shape. This year, he looked like an even better player in training camp and the preseason, and he did not make the roster. You could take that as a sign of how much deeper this roster is on defense as compared to last season. In the end, I think the decision to keep Williamson over Jefferson came down to special teams. Williamson was tied for the NFL lead with five total special teams tackles in the preseason.

Cornerback (7)

Who’s out: Trikweze Bridges, Myles Purchase, Nehemiah Shelton, Harrison Hand

Other: Deane Leonard (IR, designated to return)

Minter quoted Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh during a July 24 news conference when he said, “You can never have enough corners.” The Chargers backed that up on cutdown day. They kept seven corners, including two undrafted free agents in Reed and Rogers. They have an eighth in Leonard that will be available to come back in four games. Rogers had two interceptions in a preseason win over the New Orleans Saints. He was injured late in that game, though, and was out for the remainder of camp. The Chargers used up their two cutdown-day designated-for-return spots. But they will have six more to use over the remainder of the regular season, starting Wednesday. Rogers was in a walking boot after suffering his injury. Taylor makes the roster as the team’s best gunner. The starters are still to be determined, with Jackson, Still, Hart and St-Juste all in the mix.

Specialists (2)

Other: LS Josh Harris (IR, designated to return)

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A 53-man with only two specialists is always concerning. Harris has been a rock for the Chargers’ special teams since he was signed in free agency in 2022 — the same year Ficken was hired. His absence will be felt for at least the first four games of the season.

(Top photo of Josh Harris: Trinity Machan / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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