The Chargers are finally a week out from their week 1 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Chargers made the final cuts to their roster yesterday, and are down to their 53 man roster for the 2020 season.

This will go over the 53 man roster and some of the things to keep an eye on as the Chargers take the field this season.

Over the last week, there has been some significant news going on for the Chargers this week. Derwin James went down with a meniscus injury and has to get surgery on his knee. James will be out 6-8 months and will miss the entire 2020 season. The Charger’s current plan is to reshuffle the current safety situation, and do not plan on bringing in a free agent safety. The Chargers signed Keenan Allen to a record-breaking extension, worth 80 million dollars over the next 4 years.

This deal makes Allen the second-highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL, his performance over the last three years has been at that level and he now plans to be a Charger for Life.

Los Angeles Chargers 53-Man Roster

Players highlighted in bold are the presumed starters for week 1.

QB: Tyrod Taylor, Justin Herbert, Easton Stick

The Chargers went with the same three quarterbacks they started camp with, Taylor will likely start a majority of the season, with first-rounder Justin Herbert being the primary backup in a learning role. Easton Stick is with the team for his second season, and showed a lot of development in training camp this season, he has a chance to backup Herbert next year, if the Chargers decide to not resign Tyrod Taylor.

RB: Austin Ekeler, Justin Jackson, Joshua Kelley

The Chargers went with the expected 3 running backs while cutting Darius Bradwell and then adding him to the practice squad. Ekeler is the expected starter and should build on last year’s performance, while Jackson and Kelley play a complementary rushing role in the offense.

Jackson has been battling a foot injury the last couple of weeks, the Chargers might need to bring Bradwell to the active roster if Jackson isn’t ready for week 1.

WR: Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Jaylen Guyton, Joe Reed, KJ Hill, Jason More

The receiver group looks a little different this season, Guyton is the expected starter beside Allen in week 1, due to Mike Williams still working his way back from a shoulder injury suffered in practice a few weeks ago. Rookies Joe Reed and KJ Hill could see some snaps early in the season as well, with Reed getting some usage in kick returns and Hill being the primary punt returner.

TE: Hunter Henry, Virgil Green, Stephen Anderson, Donald Parham

It was not expected that the Chargers would keep four tight ends on the roster after final cuts, Parham and Anderson are both solid receiving tight ends, but struggle in run blocking. Anthony Lynn said that he has been impressed with their blocking in camp. Henry is the starter for the Chargers, but he has struggled to stay healthy throughout his career. He will need to perform well in this contract year.

OL: Sam Tevi, Dan Feeney, Mike Pouncey, Trai Turner, Bryan Bulaga, Forrest Lamp, Trey Pipkins III, Storm Norton, Scott Quessenberry, Tyree St. Louis

The Chargers decided to keep 10 offensive linemen on the roster. Tevi won out at the LT position over Pipkins, and Feeney held on to the LG position.

Pouncey returns as at the center position. the Chargers two offseason acquisitions will start at the right side of the offensive line with 5-time Pro Bowler Turner starting at RG and Bulaga at RT. Pipkins will be the likely backup for Tevi and could take the starting job at some point if he continues to develop.

Norton will be the swing tackle, the former XFLer made the roster and will likely back up at RT if an injury arises. Quessenberry and St. Louis will play in a backup role for the interior offensive line.

DT: Linval Joseph, Justin Jones, Jerry Tillery, Cortez Broughton, Damion Square

The Chargers kept 5 defensive tackles, Linval who was the free agent brought in from the Vikings is the main starting defensive tackle, he should be the anchor for the defensive line and help Bosa and Ingram in the pass rush. Justin Jones improved drastically over the offseason and won the second defensive tackle starting job, over 2019 first-round pick Tillery.

Jerry Tillery, had a disappointing season last year and looks to improve this season, the Chargers were using him at defensive tackle and shifting him to defensive end as well. Square has been solid for the Chargers the last couple of seasons and can step in and make an impact if needed.

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DE: Joey Bosa, Melvin Ingram, Uchenna Nwosu, Isaac Rochell

The most talented position group on the Chargers is the defensive ends, Bosa is fresh off an 11 sack season and a brand new contract making him the highest-paid defensive player in the NFL.

Melvin Ingram is the longest-tenured Charger on the roster, he just signed an extension for this season to fully-guarantee his contract. Nwosu and Rochell are some of the more talented backups on the roster and could step if needed.

LB: Kenneth Murray Jr., Drue Tranquill, Denzel Perryman, Nick Vigil, Kyzir White, Emeke Egbule

The Chargers went light on the number of linebackers they kept on the active roster. Kenneth Murray Jr. seems to be the apparent starter at MIKE, and Tranquill the main starter at WILL, with Kyzir White playing the SAM position on the defense. Perryman will be the main backup for Murray Jr., and Vigil can play any of the linebacker positions.

CB: Casey Hayward Jr., Chris Harris Jr., Desmond King, Michael Davis, Brandon Facyson, Tevaughn Campbell

The Chargers play a lot of cornerback heavy formations on defense, which could be why they didn’t keep very many linebackers on the roster. Hayward will be the Chargers top cornerback, with Harris Jr. playing the other side in base formations and slot in nickel and dime formations.

King is coming off a rough year, he will likely be utilized in a couple of different roles on the defense. Davis will be the second outside cornerback in nickel and dime formations opposite Hayward. Facyson and Campbell will be good depth options.

S: Rayshawn Jenkins, Nasir Adderley, Alohi Gilman

The Chargers had to place Derwin James in IR this week, which means that Jenkins and Adderly will be the starting safety for the Chargers, with Desmond King and Gilman filling in as utility players. Jenkins is coming off a great season and is the Charger’s best safety, with Derwin out.

Adderley is the Chargers second-round pick and was injured most of last season, he has played exceptionally in camp so far and the Chargers coaching staff has faith in him starting this year.

ST: Michael Badgley, Ty Long, Cole Mazza

The Charger’s special team unit stays the same again this season, Badgley has been a consistent kicker for the Chargers and Ty Long has been a pleasant surprise and has the versatility to play kick or punter if needed.

Featured Image: Los Angeles Chargers
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