Los Angeles Chargers

Deane Leonard

CB

Leonard was unable to practice all week while recovering from an abdominal injury, and his next chance to make his 2026 regular-season debut will be Week 2 against the Raiders on Sunday, Sept. 20. Rodney Shelley will be the primary depth option at corner behind Cam Hart, Donte Jackson and Tarheeb Still, with Nikko Reed and Kaiir Elam being candidates to be elevated from the practice squad for Week 1.

Brenen Thompson

WR

Thompson practiced fully Friday after limited sessions Wednesday and Thursday. The fourth-round rookie wideout is expected to see some action on special teams as a returner and should slot in as the Chargers' fourth receiver behind Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston and Tre' Harris.

Tuli Tuipulotu

LB

Tuipulotu was limited in practice all week, though it's unclear when he suffered the injury. Entering the final year of his rookie deal, the 24-year-old edge rusher was held out of camp early last month as he was seeking an extension. Tuipulotu piled up 13.0 sacks last regular season to lead the Chargers.

Keaton Mitchell

RB

After logging limited practices Wednesday and Thursday, Mitchell got a full session in Friday and thus appears ready to go for Week 1. Mitchell is an intriguing option in an offense run by coordinator Mike McDaniel, but his injury slowed him for much of the past three weeks, so it's unclear exactly how he will slot in behind starter Omarion Hampton and fellow reserve Kimani Vidal.

RJ Mickens

S

Rashawn Slater

OT

Slater has now moved past the undisclosed injury that he's been battling over the last month. The 27-year-old missed the entirety of last season due to a kneecap injury but should return to his role as the team's starting left tackle during Sunday's matchup against the Cardinals.

Cameron Dicker

PK

Dicker was working through an undisclosed issue toward the tail end of training camp, but his absence from the Chargers' first injury report of the week indicates that he's fully healthy for Sunday's regular-season opener against the Cardinals. Dicker was a top-5 kicker in fantasy last season, connecting on 38 of 41 field-goal attempts (including 12-for-13 on attempts from 50-plus yards) while making 34 of 35 extra-point tries across 17 regular-season games. His scoring output could increase this season if the Chargers' offense levels up under new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel.

Tre' Harris

WR

Harris dealt with an unspecified injury last month but is fine for Sunday's season opener against the Cardinals. He's expected to fill the WR3 role behind Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnson this season, but the Chargers also figure to use plenty of TE-heavy sets with Charlie Kolar, Oronde Gadsden and David Njoku.

Isaiah World

OT

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Denzel Perryman

LB

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Scott Matlock

FB

Matlock caught both of his targets for five yards during the preseason, but he appears to have suffered an undisclosed injury at some point along the way. The fullback will now be sidelined for at least four contests to open the 2026 campaign, and the earliest he could make his regular-season debut is in Week 5 against the Broncos on Oct. 11.

Tony Jefferson

S

Jefferson will ultimately stick around with the Chargers after it was reported that he was released earlier in the day. The team opened up a pair of roster spots by making some trades Sunday, so the safety won't be packing his bags. Jefferson played in 13 regular-season contests with Los Angeles last season, compiling 57 total tackles (37 solo) and seven passes defensed, including a career-high four interceptions.

Branson Taylor

G

Taylor will be forced to miss at least the first four games of the season before he's eligible to return due to an undisclosed injury. The rookie sixth-round pick should serve as a depth tackle once healthy.

Trey Lance

QB

Lance will serve as the team's top reserve option behind starter Justin Herbert for the second straight season. The quarterback completed 22 of 38 passes for 237 yards while also adding nine carries for 91 yards over the team's three preseason contests. Lance will ultimately get the nod over DJ Uiagalelei for the No. 2 role this season, and it's possible that new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel could find creative ways to get the dual-threat QB more involved in the game plan in 2026.

KeAndre Lambert-Smith

WR

Lambert-Smith worked behind the starters and ended up logging 16 offensive snaps. Over the course of the exhibition slate, Lambert-Smith led the Chargers in receptions (seven), targets (11) and receiving yards (93). That could help him in his battle for positioning in the Chargers' WR pecking order, though Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston and Tre' Harris (undisclosed) are all comfortably ahead of him on the depth chart.

Kimani Vidal

RB

Top RB Omarion Hampton started for the Chargers and played two series. Vidal followed and rushed for five yards on his first carry before losing a yard on the next play. He was on the field for a few more snaps during the Chargers' next series before calling it a day. Keaton Mitchell (undisclosed) didn't play in the contest, and it's unclear what precise issue he's dealing with it or how long he'll be sidelined. There's been no indication to this point that Mitchell is in danger of missing Week 1 of the regular season, but if that were to change, Vidal would be slated for an increased role behind Hampton.

Ladd McConkey

WR

McConkey was on the field for each of the Chargers' first two series before observing the rest of Thursday's exhibition contest from the sidelines. The 2024 second-rounder is the top wide receiver on the Chargers' depth chart following the departure of veteran Keenan Allen, and McConkey should be one of Justin Herbert's go-to targets in the passing game. McConkey caught 66 passes (on 106 targets) for 789 yards and six touchdowns across 16 regular-season games last year.

David Njoku

TE

Njoku worked behind starter Charlie Kolar and ahead of Oronde Gadsden in the contest. During the exhibition slate, Kolar and starting QB Justin Herbert were on the field together for six snaps, while Njoku logged five snaps with Herbert and Gadsden registered just one. That could be an indication of the pecking order during the regular season as well, as Kolar is considered the superior blocker of the trio and Gadsden the top pass catcher, with Njoku being competent in both areas.

Oronde Gadsden

TE

For the second straight week, Gadsden worked in a reserve role behind Charlie Kolar and David Njoku. While snap counts during preseason play aren't generally reflective of what will happen during the regular season, it could be telling that Gadsden saw only one offensive snap with Justin Herbert on the field during the exhibition slate while fellow tight ends Charlie Kolar and David Njoku logged six and five snaps, respectively, in that scenario. Despite Gadsden's promising rookie campaign last year, he could be looking at a reduced role behind Kolar and Njoku -- both of whom are regarded as better blockers -- in new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel's system.

Charlie Kolar

TE

Kolar worked as the Chargers' starting tight end Thursday, hauling in a nine-yard pass from Justin Herbert while playing five snaps (four on offense, one on special teams). Kolar, Oronde Gadsden and David Njoku are the top tight ends on the Chargers depth chart, but it's been Kolar who has been working more with the first-team offense during training camp. Still, Kolar's offensive output figures to be minimal this year, given that his 10 catches across 17 regular-season games with the Ravens last year was a career high for the 2022 fourth-rounder.

Omarion Hampton

RB

Hampton was on the field for the Chargers' first two offensive drives but did get a touch in Thursday's preseason finale. The 2025 first-rounder was limited to nine regular-season games in his rookie campaign due mostly to a fractured left ankle but still finished with 124 carries for 545 yards and four touchdowns while adding 32 catches (on 35 targets) for 192 yards and a score. Hampton is the lead back for the Chargers, but Kimani Vidal and Keaton Mitchell (undisclosed) both figure to see a fair amount of work in the scheme of new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel.

Quentin Johnston

WR

The speedy fourth-year pro recently missed some practice time due to a lower-body injury he suffered during a joint practice with the 49ers leading up to Los Angeles' second preseason game, yet Johnston looked at full health when blowing past the Rams' secondary for a 65-yard touchdown with just under 10 minutes remaining in the first quarter. Thursday's snaps were Johnston's only action this preseason, but he looks prepared to reprise the No. 2 receiver role that's netted over 700 receiving yards in each of the last two seasons beginning with a Week 1 home matchup against the Cardinals.

Justin Herbert

QB

Herbert drew the start and completed a nine-yard pass to Charlie Kolar on the Chargers' first play from scrimmage before losing a fumble on his next snap. However, the star signal-caller atoned on his second and final possession, hitting Quentin Johnston for a 65-yard touchdown pass to close out his brief night. Herbert, who put up five pass attempts across two games this preseason, will begin his quest to eclipse the 3,700-yard mark through the air for the third straight campaign with a Week 1 home matchup against the Cardinals on Sunday, Sept. 13.

Jake Slaughter

C

Slaughter, a second-round selection of the Chargers in the 2026 NFL Draft, entered training camp competing for a starting spot at guard. However, with Tyler Biadasz (knee) on injured reserve, Slaughter will shift over and serve as the starting center for his rookie campaign. Slaughter will be flanked by Kayode Awosika and Rashawn Slater (undisclosed) on his left side, with Joe Alt and Cole Strange manning the right.

Tyler Biadasz

C

Biadasz's placement on injured reserve means the 2020 fourth-rounder will be sidelined for the entire 2026 season. He suffered multiple injuries to his left knee -- including his ACL -- during Tuesday's training camp practice. There was initial optimism that he would be available toward the tail end of the regular season, but Biadasz will now shift his focus toward being fully healthy for the 2027 campaign. Jake Slaughter figures to serve as the Chargers' starting center moving forward.