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5 position battles to watch for at Chargers training camp
5 position battles to watch for at Chargers training camp

USA Today

time16-07-2025

  • Sport
  • USA Today

5 position battles to watch for at Chargers training camp

The Chargers' veterans report to training camp on Thursday, marking the start of their preseason program early due to their participation in the Hall of Fame Game on July 31. While most of the roster is set, a few key battles on the roster bubble will begin to play out with the entire 90-man team on the field. Here are a few battles on the back end of the roster to watch. RB4: Hassan Haskins, Jaret Patterson, Raheim Sanders With Najee Harris set to miss some of camp with a "superficial" eye injury suffered over the 4th of July weekend, the running backs at the back end of the roster may get more of an opportunity to prove themselves. First-rounder Omarion Hampton will be the unquestioned starter with Harris out, which may lessen the reps the Chargers give the rookie in preseason action. With 2024 sixth-rounder Kimani Vidal expected to play a role as well, the final spot will be decided by special teams upside. Haskins returned kickoffs for the Chargers last season, Patterson mainly was on the practice squad, and Sanders is one of the more high-profile UDFAs on the squad. TE4: Tucker Fisk, Stevo Klotz Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers coaching staff have raved about Klotz, a UDFA from Iowa State who Los Angeles thinks will start to shine when the pads come on. It's difficult to find a path to a roster spot for Klotz, however, unless he can unseat Fisk or prove he's a better fullback than two-way player Scott Matlock. Fisk has been a fringe roster player for most of his NFL career, but his blocking ability opens up a lot of what Greg Roman wants to do on offense. DL: Naquan Jones, Scott Matlock Speaking of Matlock, there's no guarantee that the Boise State alum will crack the rotation on the defensive line, either. LA added Da'Shawn Hand, Jamaree Caldwell, and Jones last season to a group that already included Otito Ogbonnia, Teair Tart, and Justin Eboigbe. If the competition at fullback is close and Jones is repping ahead of Matlock, his utility as a two-way player may not end up mattering. CB6: Ja'Sir Taylor, Trikweze Bridges The Chargers are deep at corner, with Donte Jackson, Tarheeb Still, Cam Hart, Benjamin St-Juste, and Deane Leonard set to form a solid first five. Taylor has started on and off at nickel, but Still and Derwin James excelled in that role last season, and special teams coordinator Ryan Ficken has been overhauling the core special teams unit that Taylor once belonged to. Bridges, a seventh-round rookie, has the flexibility to play corner or safety. S4: RJ Mickens, Tony Jefferson Mickens and Jefferson may get away without having to battle too much if Elijah Molden (meniscus) remains on the PUP list to start the season, but the sense from minicamp is that Molden will be active to start the year. That leaves the rookie and veteran to battle over the last spot in a room occupied by James, Molden, and Alohi Gilman, all of whom will play crucial roles on defense. Mickens has more special-teams upside, but the Chargers value Jefferson's veteran presence after keeping him around last season.

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