The Los Angeles Chargers begin their season on the road against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 13, a game that will in many ways mark the dawn of a new era. The 2020 season -- wholly unconventional for obvious reasons -- will bring new uniforms, the grand opening of a cutting-edge stadium and the transition from Philip Rivers, one of the greatest players in franchise history. The Chargers fell to 5-11 last year but believe they're a lot better than that. And they expect their added depth, a byproduct of spending less at the quarterback position, to help propel them into the playoffs. Here's our projection for their 53-man roster (names listed in alphabetical order).
QUARTERBACK (3): Justin Herbert, Easton Stick, Tyrod Taylor
Herbert, the sixth overall pick out of Oregon, is expected to sit at the onset. The Chargers will allow him to develop while temporarily handing the offense over to Taylor, who started 43 games for the Buffalo Bills from 2015 to 2017. Taylor provides two things that Rivers couldn't towards the end of his 14-year run as the Chargers' starting quarterback -- a legitimate deep-ball threat and the ability to make plays on the run. The question is whether Taylor is still good enough to lead a playoff team.
RUNNING BACK (4): Austin Ekeler, Justin Jackson, Joshua Kelley, Gabe Nabers (FB)
The Chargers felt comfortable letting Melvin Gordon go as a free agent because they had Ekeler, who broke out with 1,550 yards from scrimmage last season, then signed a four-year, $24.5 million extension in March. Ekeler's abilities as both a runner and a receiver provide a lot of versatility for offensive coordinator Shane Steichen. Jackson and Kelley, a fourth-round pick out of UCLA, should provide nice depth behind him.
WIDE RECEIVER (6): Keenan Allen, K.J. Hill, Darius Jennings, Jason Moore, Joe Reed, Mike Williams
Allen and Williams combined for 2,200 yards last season and head into 2020 as one of the game's best, if not most underrated, receiving duos. The depth behind them remains something of a mystery, but the Chargers should get enough pass-catching ability from their running backs and tight end to make up for the lack of a solidified No. 3 receiver. Reed, a fifth-round pick out of Virginia, impressed during training camp for his ability to contribute as a running back, kick returner and, of course, receiver.
TIGHT END (3): Stephen Anderson, Virgil Green, Hunter Henry
Henry, slapped with the franchise tag in March, had this to say about playing with a quarterback who can run a little bit more freely this year: "I think it's exciting, and that's no shade to Philip at all. I think it can suit my skillset in a way, so I'm excited to see it come to fruition this season. It's gonna be fun, just with the legs and everything. Obviously we gotta run the ball better this year. That's one of the things that we're trying to focus on. So if we could run the ball better, that kind of suits my game even more."
OFFENSIVE LINE (10): Bryan Bulaga, Dan Feeney, Ryan Groy, Forrest Lamp, Trey Pipkins, Mike Pouncey, Scott Quessenberry, Trent Scott, Sam Tevi, Trai Turner
The Chargers are hoping for far more stability out of their offensive line this season. The additions of Bulaga and Turner on the right side will help immensely. Just as important, though, will be a healthy Pouncey in the middle, who should especially help an offense that ranked 28th in rushing yards per game last season. The biggest question is how Tevi will transition to left tackle. "It's not as easy as one thinks," Bulaga said.
DEFENSIVE LINE (8): Joey Bosa, Cortez Broughton, Melvin Ingram III, Justin Jones, Linval Joseph, Isaac Rochell, Damion Square, Jerry Tillery
"Mobile home." "Truck." "Refrigerator." "Coke machine." Those were some of the comparisons used to describe Joseph, a behemoth of a man at 6-foot-4, 329 pounds. Joseph should command constant double-teams in the interior, which should free up Bosa and Ingram on the edge, giving the Chargers an even better pass-rushing attack in 2020. Bosa simply called Joseph "the strongest human I've come across." That's good enough.
LINEBACKER (6): Kenneth Murray, Uchenna Nwosu, Denzel Perryman, Drue Tranquill, Nick Vigil, Kyzir White
The Chargers selected Murray with the 23rd overall pick largely for his ability to get after the quarterback and defend the run but believe he can fare well in coverage, too. They'll keep him locked in at the MIKE for now and hope to benefit from the best linebacker depth Anthony Lynn has had in his four seasons as head coach.
CORNERBACKS (6): Tevaughn Campbell, Michael Davis, Brandon Facyson, Chris Harris Jr., Casey Hayward Jr., Quenton Meeks
The Chargers generated the NFL's fewest turnovers last season, and the guess here is that won't be the case again in 2020. Harris, a four-time Pro Bowler, expects to join Hayward on the outside and duplicate what he had with Aqib Talib in Denver. That could leave Desmond King II to man the slot when he isn't needed at safety and essentially leave Davis as a backup. Regardless of how it ultimately shakes out, that should make for a nice foursome.
SAFETIES (4): Nasir Adderley, Alohi Gilman, Desmond King II, Rayshawn Jenkins
Derwin James will undergo knee surgery that will keep him out six to eight months and essentially end his 2020 season before it even begins. The Chargers' secondary is deep, but no one person can replace James' playmaking ability. Barring an outside move, Jenkins will probably move to strong safety, King can take reps behind him - as well as be an option at slot corner - and Adderley can start at free safety.
SPECIALIST (3): Michael Badgley, Ty Long, Cole Mazza
The Chargers finally appeared to solve their kicking woes with Badgley in 2018, then watched him miss half the 2019 season with a groin injury. In 18 games over the last two seasons, Badgley has converted 28 of 32 field-goal attempts, including all 16 from within 40 yards.