COSTA MESA, Calif. -- The Los Angeles Chargers open the 2022 NFL regular season against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sept. 11 at SoFi Stadium.
A glance around the field during their two-day mandatory minicamp confirmed that the Chargers have plenty of star power to deliver a deep playoff run in coach Brandon Staley's second season.
Justin Herbert returns for his third season with the ability to establish himself as one of the league's top quarterbacks after throwing 38 touchdown passes, to 15 interceptions, in 2021. He'll have receivers Mike Williams (76 reception, 1,146 yards and nine touchdown receptions last season) and Keenan Allen (106 receptions, 1,138 yards and six touchdowns) at his disposal.
On defense, the Bolts invested big money and future draft capital into a unit that ranked a disappointing No. 29 in points allowed per game (27.0) and No. 26 in efficiency in Staley's first year. After a blockbuster trade with the Chicago Bears, All-Pro outside linebacker Khalil Mack joins four-time Pro Bowl selection Joey Bosa to create a formidable pass rush. Cornerback J.C. Jackson, the league leader in interceptions since 2018 (25), joins All-Pro safety Derwin James Jr. in what should become a ball-hawking secondary.
Most starting jobs are accounted for as the Chargers look ahead to training camp, but building reliable depth will prove crucial to making it through a 17-game season and beyond.
Perhaps the biggest question going into training camp is how quickly their stars, particularly on defense, can create chemistry.
Here is a roster projection:
QUARTERBACK (3): Justin Herbert, Chase Daniel, Easton Stick
There's no mystery who the starting quarterback will be, with Hebert returning to lead the offense. Herbert finished last season ranked No. 3 in the NFL --- behind only future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady and Super Bowl champion Matthew Stafford -- in touchdown passes. The only question will be whether the former No. 6 overall pick is ready to lead the Bolts to a deep playoff run, even one that ends in the Super Bowl.
RUNNING BACK (5): Austin Ekeler, Joshua Kelley, Larry Rountree III, Isaiah Spiller, Gabe Nabers
Ekeler enters training camp as the starter after compiling 1,558 all-purpose yards and 20 touchdowns last season. But the sixth-year pro is eager for younger counterparts to prove they can make an impact. "I want guys to come in and earn some reps," Ekeler said. "I say earn that because I don't want that to be, 'Oh, we need to give Austin a blow because he's tired.' I want someone to be like, 'No, we want to get this guy in there because he's shown that he can play.'" A fourth-round pick from Texas A&M, Spiller will have the opportunity to prove he's worthy of carries ahead of Kelley and Rountree.
WIDE RECEIVER (5): Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Joshua Palmer, Jalen Guyton, DeAndre Carter
Williams and Allen are among the top receiver duos in the NFL, finishing ranked No. 12 and 13, respectively, in the NFL in receiving yards last season. Palmer and Guyton will challenge for the third receiver spot, with Staley identifying Guyton as a surprise offensive standout at the conclusion of the offseason program.
TIGHT END (3): Gerald Everett, Donald Parham Jr., Tre' McKitty
The Chargers signed Everett to a two-year, $12 million contract that includes $8 million guaranteed. The sixth-year pro spent his first four seasons with the Los Angeles Rams, including the 2020 season when Staley served as their defensive coordinator. Last season he played for the Seattle Seahawks, where he tallied career-highs in receptions (48), receiving yards (478) and receiving touchdowns (4).
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (9): Rashawn Slater, Matt Feiler, Corey Linsley, Zion Johnson, Storm Norton, Trey Pipkins III, Brenden Jaimes, Jamaree Salyer, Will Clapp
Slater had a breakout rookie season, earning Pro Bowl honors. Now the Chargers hope that Johnson, who they selected with the 17th overall pick, will experience similar success as he prepares to step in at right guard. The biggest question is whether the Chargers will see needed improvement at right tackle, where Norton and Pipkins are battling to earn the starting spot. "It's probably a position where people can improve more year-to-year than maybe some other spots," offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi said. "We think that we'll be a lot better at right tackle than what we had last year."
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (6): Jerry Tillery, Austin Johnson, Sebastian Joseph-Day, Breiden Fehoko, Otito Ogbonnia, Morgan Fox
The defensive front underwent an offseason makeover with the addition of Johnson, Joseph-Day, Ogbonnia and Fox. Entering training camp, expect Tillery, Johnson and Joseph-Day to lead the way and for a healthy competition to take place behind them.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER (5): Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack, Chris Rumph II, Kyle Van Noy, Emeke Egbule
When Bosa first heard that the Chargers traded for Mack, he was unsure if the blockbuster deal was true. "He's obviously an unbelievable player," Bosa said. "So having a guy like that on the other side is going to be really fun." The Bolts also added Van Noy, an eight-year NFL veteran, who will provide depth along the edge.
INSIDE LINEBACKER (4): Kenneth Murray Jr., Drue Tranquill, Troy Reeder, Amen Ogbongbemiga
Murray underwent offseason ankle surgery but, according to Staley, the former first-round pick is expected to be ready to go for training camp. Reeder is a newcomer after signing a one-year, $1 million free agent contract. Staley is familiar with the Reeder, who started seven games for him with the Rams in 2020.
CORNERBACK (6): J.C. Jackson, Asante Samuel Jr., Michael Davis, Tevaughn Campbell, Bryce Callahan, Ja'Sir Taylor
At the conclusion of the offseason program, Staley put together a friendly competition that included defensive backs and receivers facing off to catch passes from the JUGS machine. "I want our secondary to catch more passes than anybody in pro sports, because that's what the money is on defense," Staley said. "It's in the deep part of the field." Jackson, with 25 interceptions in four seasons, knows that after signing a five-year, $82.5 million deal, which includes $40 million guaranteed. The Bolts have plenty of playmakers at corner, but the question to answer in training camp is who will lineup on the inside and outside.
SAFETY (4): Derwin James Jr., Nasir Adderley, Alohi Gilman, JT Woods
James is preparing for his fifth training camp and for an extension that should put him among the highest-paid safeties in the NFL, if not the highest. Out of an abundance of caution, Staley put restrictions on James' participation through the offseason program after the All-Pro safety underwent surgery on his left labrum following the Pro Bowl in February, which gave way for Adderley to step up and make an impression. "Nas really showed up," Staley said. "He was our most productive guy in the spring in the secondary."
SPECIALISTS (3): Dustin Hopkins (K), JK Scott (P), Josh Harris (LS)
With two newcomers, this group will benefit from time together at training camp. Harris joins the group after spending 10 seasons with the Atlanta Falcons. A fifth-round pick by the Green Bay Packers in 2018, Scott will get a fresh start after playing in only one game last season with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Hopkins returns on a three-year, $9 million contract after he converted 18 of 20 field-goal attempts in 11 games last season.