Los Angeles Chargers

Keaton Mitchell

RB

After Omarion Hampton served as the starting running back on the team's opening possession, Mitchell entered the game the second time the Chargers had the ball and played a total of two drives. The speedy offseason addition saw a 21-yard reception wiped out by an illegal formation penalty, but he had a solid 11-yard gain on his one catch that did count. While Mitchell couldn't get anything going on the ground, the fourth-year pro is expected to play a solid complementary role behind Hampton and alongside Kimani Vidal in coordinator Mike McDaniel's creative offensive scheme.

Ladd McConkey

WR

McConkey and the rest of the healthy Chargers offensive starters were out there to open the game Thursday, and the talented wideout couldn't corral his one target deep down the left side of the field during that first drive. McConkey's night was done after that possession, and the 2024 second-round pick will likely now turn his attention to prepping for a Week 1 home matchup against the Cardinals on Sunday, Sept. 13.

Justin Herbert

QB

As expected, Herbert and the rest of the Chargers' offensive starters opened Thursday's game. However, Los Angeles traveled only eight yards on three plays before punting, and Herbert's one completion came to offseason addition Charlie Kolar. The talented signal-caller once again enters the new season with elevated expectations following back-to-back 11-6 campaigns, and with a bevy of young pass-catching talent surrounding him, as well as veteran newcomer David Njoku.

Omarion Hampton

RB

The second-year pro was the first Chargers running back to touch the ball, and he and the rest of Los Angeles' first-team offense exited the game after that opening possession. Hampton's brief appearance was unsurprising considering his importance to the team's offense, and it remains to be seen if he or any of the rest of the unit's front-line players will see any time during next Thursday night's home preseason finale against the Rams.

Tyler Biadasz

C

Biadasz suffered injuries to multiple ligaments in his left knee during Tuesday's practice and is now looking at a multi-month recovery. The Chargers have been struck hard by offensive-line injuries multiple years running now, and Biadasz is the latest to go down after he signed a three-year, $30 million with the team back in March. Second-round rookie Jack Slaughter was initially supposed to compete at guard but is now expected to move to center for the Bolts.

Quentin Johnston

WR

Johnston was injured in Tuesday's joint practice with the Niners and is expected to be fine to return to practice sometime in the next few days following Thursday's exhibition.

Luke Grimm

WR

Grimm was waived with an injury designation Wednesday and went unclaimed on waivers. He'll now either spend the 2026 season on injured reserve or later be cut with an injury settlement. The 25-year-old wideout has never appeared in a regular-season NFL game.

Liam Clifford

WR

Clifford was cut by the Colts earlier in the month, but he's already getting another shot with a new team less than two weeks later. In a corresponding transaction, the Chargers waived wide receiver Luke Grimm (undisclosed) with an injury designation.

Rashawn Slater

OT

questionable

Junior Colson

LB

Nikko Reed

CB

Eric Rogers

CB

Trey Lance

QB

Lance played the first three quarters of Thursday's preseason opener as the Chargers rested starting QB Justin Herbert and other key starters. DJ Uiagalelei came in for the fourth quarter. Lance threw an interception on his final pass of the first half but moved the offense pretty well and tied for the team lead in rushing yards. He'll likely feature prominently in the Chargers' second preseason game, which will be Aug. 20 against the 49ers.

Brenen Thompson

WR

Thompson tied KeAndre Lambert-Smith for the team lead in targets as the Chargers got the rookie fourth-round pick involved in Thompson's first taste of NFL action. Both Thompson and Lambert-Smith are trying to push Tre' Harris for a spot in three-receiver sets alongside Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston. Thompson's likely to maintain a prominent role in the Chargers' second preseason game against the 49ers on Aug. 20.

Kimani Vidal

RB

The Chargers rested starting running back Omarion Hampton for the preseason opener, and offseason addition Keaton Mitchell didn't register a touch. This was a quiet performance from Vidal, but the 2024 sixth-round pick remains in the mix for touches behind Hampton after a solid sophomore season in which Vidal produced 779 regular-season scrimmage yards.

Cameron Dicker

PK

Dicker connected on field-goal attempts of 34 and 48 yards, though he later missed a PAT attempt in the fourth quarter. He missed just once on 35 PAT tries in the 2025 regular season. Dicker has established himself as one of the league's most reliable kickers in recent seasons while kicking in sunny Los Angeles.

Oronde Gadsden

TE

The Chargers rested key starters, including QB Justin Herbert, but Gadsden evidently hasn't earned that distinction coming off a 664-yard rookie regular season. Both of Gadsden's catches Thursday came on passes thrown by Trey Lance. In Gadsden's second NFL campaign, he will try to hold off David Njoku for targets among the Chargers' tight ends. Gadsden could continue to see action in the Chargers' second preseason game, Aug. 20 against the 49ers.

Andre Carter II

LB

Carter spent some time with Miami last season after missing the cut for Las Vegas' 53-man roster, and now he's getting another shot with the Chargers. He'll have his work cut out to try to earn a depth role on the edge with his new team in 2026.

Kendall Williamson

S

Williamson missed the team's wild-card loss to the Patriots last season but is now healthy again. The 25-year-old will likely serve as a reserve safety and special teamer once again during the upcoming campaign.

Tuli Tuipulotu

LB

The outside linebacker continues to hold in as he seeks a contract extension following a stellar 13.0-sack tally over 16 regular-season games in 2025. While Tuipulotu remains off the practice field, rookie Akheem Mesidor continues to gain valuable first-team reps at edge. Even if Mesidor impresses with the additional opportunties, Tuipulotu doesn't figure to lose any leverage considering his upside and the fact fellow linebacker Khalil Mack may well be playing out his final season.

Joe Alt

OT

It looks like Alt has fully recovered from an ankle injury that caused him to miss the second half of the 2025 regular season. He may be limited in his practice participation early on in training camp, but the expectation is that he'll be good to go for Week 1 against the Cardinals on Sunday, Sept. 13.

Isaiah World

OT

World tore the ACL in his left knee while playing for Oregon in the Peach Bowl against Indiana on Jan. 9. He then went undrafted in April before signing with the Chargers as a free agent. Given the nature of World's injury, there's a strong chance that he won't be ready for the beginning of the regular season, and he could potentially miss most or all of the upcoming campaign.

Bud Dupree

LB

Dupree hurt his hamstring in Week 18 last season and had to sit out the Chargers' wild-card round loss to New England. However, his attendance during OTAs suggests that the veteran linebacker is back to full health. Dupree started just five of the 16 games in which he played last year and is slated for a similar role in 2026, as Tuli Tuipulotu and Khalil Mack are back as Los Angeles' starting outside linebackers.

KeAndre Lambert-Smith

WR

Lambert-Smith played in only 10 games during his rookie season last year, in part because he was tending to a lingering hamstring injury. The Chargers' only big move at wide receiver during the offseason was selecting Brenen Thompson in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, and Lambert-Smith is one of a few players working on returning punts during offseason workouts, so now that he's back to full strength, he should have a realistic chance of snagging a spot on the 53-man roster for this season.

Tre' Harris

WR

With Keenan Allen still unsigned and looking like a poor fit for new OC Mike McDaniel's speed-based offense, Harris appears ticketed for a bigger offensive role in his second season. Harris appeared in all 17 regular-season games as a rookie, making 10 starts, but he logged just 49 percent of the offensive snaps and turned 43 targets into a 30-324-1 receiving line. Allen played 55 percent of the Chargers' offensive snaps but paced the team with 122 targets and 81 catches. Harris will need to fend off fourth-round rookie Brenen Thompson, but Harris certainly has a chance to see significantly more playing time and pass volume in 2026.