Chargers 53-man roster prediction: Expect some roster churn on the offensive line

The Los Angeles Chargers lost to the San Francisco 49ers 30-23 on Saturday evening in their final game of the preseason.

Now it is decision time for coach Jim Harbaugh and general manager Joe Hortiz.

The Chargers must trim their roster from 91 players to 53 players by Tuesday at 1 p.m. PT. They can then field a practice squad of, at most, 17 players, including the one spot that is available for tight end Thomas Yassmin, the team’s International Pathway player. Players with fewer than four accrued seasons are subject to waivers, meaning they can be claimed by any team after being cut. Players with four or more accrued seasons are vested veterans and become immediate free agents.

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Let’s make a final call. Here is my 53-man roster prediction.

Quarterbacks (2)

Justin Herbert, Trey Lance

Who’s out: Taylor Heinicke, DJ Uiagalelei

Lance has outplayed Heinicke through training camp and the preseason, and he has earned the spot as Herbert’s backup. The Chargers signed Lance to a cheap one-year deal in early April primarily because they wanted more competition for this spot. Herbert has dealt with injuries the last three seasons, from fractured rib cartilage in 2022 to broken fingers on both hands in 2023 to a plantar fascia injury and high ankle sprain in 2024. The Chargers need a contingency plan, and Lance is a young player with potential.

Lance provides more upside. Heinicke has more experience. We saw Lance’s upside turn into tangible results in the preseason. He made good decisions. He showed off his running ability and athleticism, both in and out of structure. He made impressive throws, particularly down the field. If anything happens to Herbert, Lance gives the Chargers the best chance to win. The Chargers could keep Heinicke on the 53-man and search for a trade partner. But I think they need to use this spot elsewhere on the roster.

Running backs (4)

Omarion Hampton, Hassan Haskins, Raheim Sanders, Kimani Vidal

Who’s out: Jaret Patterson, Nyheim Miller-Hines

Other: Najee Harris (on NFI)

Harris did not practice in training camp after injuring his eye in a July 4 fireworks accident. He remains on the non-football injury list. Hortiz said on the CBS broadcast Saturday that Harris is “on track” and “hopefully” will be ready for Week 1. Still, I think Harris will begin the season on NFI. Harris will have to miss the first four games of the season if he is on NFI through final cuts.

Haskins is one of the Chargers’ best special teams players, and based on practice rotations, he looks to be the No. 2 back behind Hampton. The Chargers were ecstatic to sign Sanders as an undrafted free agent. I do not think they will risk losing him to another team on waivers. And Sanders, who led the Chargers with 48 yards on 13 carries Saturday, has performed well in the preseason games. I was on the fence about Vidal, who did not play Saturday due to an injury. But Vidal has been a mainstay on the first-team punt unit throughout camp. Vidal did miss the final three practices of training camp last week, so he is an IR candidate. The Chargers can place up to two players on IR on Tuesday, and those two players would be eligible to return after four games.

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Fullback (1)

Scott Matlock

No one has truly challenged Matlock for this role. Stevo Klotz received some reps at fullback with the first-team offense earlier in camp, but those reps were all Matlock’s over the homestretch. Matlock also provides depth at interior defensive line.

Receivers (6)

Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, Keenan Allen, Tre’ Harris, KeAndre Lambert-Smith, Derius Davis

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

This group has felt set since the Chargers signed Allen in early August. Reagor was in the mix for the roster when camp started, but he suffered an injury on Day 4, and he did not return to team drills until Day 22 last week.

Tight ends (3)

Will Dissly, Tyler Conklin, Oronde Gadsden

Who’s out: Tucker Fisk, Stevo Klotz, Thomas Yassmin

Fisk is my first player out. He brings a skill set the Chargers covet as a physical, willing and functional run blocker. But he does not bring much value outside of that, and I do not think he is going to get claimed on waivers. Stash Fisk on the practice squad. The Chargers can elevate him for game day three times before they have to decide about signing him to the active roster.

Offensive line (9)

Joe Alt, Zion Johnson, Bradley Bozeman, Mekhi Becton, Trey Pipkins III, Jamaree Salyer, Branson Taylor, Andre James, David Sharpe

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

This is the group I am going with … for now. I could absolutely see the Chargers making a move before Tuesday to add some needed depth. Rashawn Slater’s season-ending injury has thrown a wrench into the plans for the offensive line. The Chargers could not have predicted this, but it is the situation they face. Hortiz has been very aggressive in supplementing the bottom of the roster — churning it, as he says. I would be surprised if he sits tight and enters Week 1 with the current offensive line.

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Defensive line (6)

Teair Tart, Otito Ogbonnia, Da’Shawn Hand, Jamaree Caldwell, Justin Eboigbe, Naquan Jones

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

The Chargers are very excited about their interior defensive line, and deservedly so. They have six players who can all make an impact this season. They could potentially have all six active on game days, which would allow defensive coordinator Jesse Minter to rotate heavily up front and keep his players fresh. Caldwell has shown star potential in his preseason action as a rookie.

Edge rushers (5)

Khalil Mack, Tuli Tuipulotu, Bud Dupree, Caleb Murphy, Kyle Kennard

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

Murphy will not just be on the roster. I expect him to be active on game days over Kennard, who has battled injuries during camp. Murphy has emerged as a disruptive special teams coverage player. He has performed well as a run defender and pass rusher in preseason games. As Minter said of Murphy last week, “Major shoutout to him of just, head down, not counting bodies, not counting numbers, not being like, ‘Oh, they drafted a guy at my position.’ Head down, work and it’s paid off for him.”

Linebackers (4)

Daiyan Henley, Denzel Perryman, Troy Dye, Del’Shawn Phillips

Who’s out: Kana’i Mauga, Marlowe Wax, Emany Johnson

Other: Junior Colson (on IR)

Phillips was still on the physically unable to perform list when we did our last prediction. He has passed his physical and was back in practice this week. On the day Phillips returned to team drills, he was in with the first-team punt unit. He was signed to replace Nick Niemann, and it seems like he will fill that role for the Chargers in 2025.

Colson missed the final two practices of training camp, and he was not on the field at all on those days. Colson did not play Saturday. Vidal, by contrast, was working off to the side with trainers for the final two days of camp. I am predicting Colson will start the season on IR, with the potential to be designated for return. Wax feels like a lock for the practice squad, especially after adding a sack-fumble and a tackle for loss to his solid preseason Saturday.

wax on wax off 📺 | CBS2 LA pic.twitter.com/1I9Yp1Fn9b — Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) August 24, 2025

Safety (5)

Derwin James Jr., Elijah Molden, Alohi Gilman, Tony Jefferson, RJ Mickens

Who’s out: Kendall Williamson, Jaylen Jones

Gilman missed Monday’s practice after suffering a minor injury in the preseason loss to the Rams. With Gilman out, Jefferson was the third safety on the field with Molden and James. That confirmed to me that he is making the roster. Mickens is the fifth safety. His most promising moments in the preseason came as an in-the-box run defender. He is physical and a sure-handed tackler.

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Cornerback (5)

Donte Jackson, Tarheeb Still, Cam Hart, Benjamin St-Juste, Ja’Sir Taylor

Who’s out: Nikko Reed, Trikweze Bridges, Myles Purchase, Eric Rogers, Nehemiah Shelton, Harrison Hand

Other: Deane Leonard (on IR)

Reed is my second player out. The undrafted free agent out of Oregon has performed well in training camp and the preseason, including an interception on the final day of camp and a pass breakup Saturday. But I do not have a spot for him. I think he will end up on the practice squad. Taylor is the Chargers’ best gunner, and that earns him a spot. Leonard is dealing with what appears to be a pretty significant leg injury, and so I predict he will begin the season on IR with the potential to return after four games.

Specialists (3)

P JK Scott, LS Josh Harris, PK Cameron Dicker

The Chargers did not bring in any competition at these positions. They have been set since the offseason. Harris did suffer an injury Saturday, and Fisk replaced him as the long snapper in the fourth quarter. Something to monitor.

(Photo of Trey Lance under pressure from 49ers defense: Sergio Estrada / Imagn Images)

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