COSTA MESA, Calif. -- The Los Angeles Chargers open the 2022 NFL regular season against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sept. 11 at SoFi Stadium.
The Chargers boast enough star power worthy of Hollywood, but the question remains whether the big names can come together to earn a playoff berth for the first time since 2018.
Coming off his first Pro Bowl appearance, quarterback Justin Herbert enters his third season with a cast of return playmakers, including receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams and running back Austin Ekeler.
On defense, the Chargers made several bold offseason moves to upgrade personnel following a lackluster 2021 season. All-Pro outside linebacker Khalil Mack (acquired via a trade with the Chicago Bears), cornerback J.C. Jackson (signed to a five-year, $82.5 million contract) and defensive lineman Sebastian Joseph-Day join edge rusher Joey Bosa and safety Derwin James Jr.
The roster will be cut to 53 players by 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday. Here is a projection:
QUARTERBACK (3): Justin Herbert, Chase Daniel, Easton Stick
Keeping three quarterbacks seems unnecessary, but the Chargers have provided little hint that they're OK with only two, perhaps fearing whoever doesn't make the roster will be picked up elsewhere, leaving them with few options if anything happened to Herbert. "I know that we really like having all three," coach Brandon Staley said during training camp. "Very pleased with how Easton and Chase have played."
RUNNING BACK (4): Austin Ekeler, Isaiah Spiller, Joshua Kelley, Larry Rountree III
Spiller, the rookie fourth-round pick from Texas A&M, is considered week-to-week because of an ankle injury and there's no guarantee he'll be ready to play Week 1, according to Staley. That opens the door for Rountree to make the initial roster. Offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi said near the end of training camp that none of Ekeler's potential backups had separated from the competition. "But they're all running hard," Lombardi said.
FULLBACK (1): Zander Horvath
The rookie seventh-round pick from Purdue has made a positive impression on coaches in a short period, allowing him to edge out third-year pro Gabe Nabers. "He's a willing guy," offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi said about Horvath. "He goes in there and hits."
WIDE RECEIVER (5): Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Joshua Palmer, Jalen Guyton, DeAndre Carter
Entering his second season, Palmer was among camp standouts and displayed as much in the second preseason game when he caught three passes for 75 yards and a touchdown, including a 41-yard contested catch over his shoulder. And Carter, signed in the offseason mostly as a return specialist, also proved that he can be an additional threat on offense.
TIGHT END (3): Gerald Everett, Donald Parham Jr., Tre' McKitty
Everett, who signed a two-year, $12 million contract in free agency, got plenty of work with the starters with Parham and McKitty both nursing injuries during camp. A sixth-year pro, Everett has big-play potential but his connection with Herbert remains a work in progress.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (9): Rashawn Slater, Matt Feiler, Corey Linsley, Zion Johnson, Trey Pipkins III, Storm Norton, Brenden Jaimes, Will Clapp, Jamaree Salyer
The right tackle competition between Pipkins and Norton was arguably the most important battle of camp. After splitting first-team reps through the first half of camp, Pipkins took over with the ones and is expected to be named the starter. Johnson, the Bolts 17th overall pick in the draft, has quickly earned the confidence of coaches and teammates and will start at right guard.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (6): Sebastian Joseph-Day, Austin Johnson, Morgan Fox, Jerry Tillery, Otito Ogbonnia, Christian Covington
After failing to stop the run last season, the defensive front became an offseason priority and the Bolts signed Joseph-Day, Johnson and Fox in free agency. The additions created competition that previously lacked in the position group, and it could make for difficult decisions when the roster is cut.
INSIDE LINEBACKER (5): Kyle Van Noy, Kenneth Murray Jr., Drue Tranquill, Troy Reeder, Amen Ogbongbemiga
Murray, a 2020 first-round pick, opened camp on the physically unable to perform list after undergoing ankle surgery in April. With three weeks before kickoff, Murray began to participate in individual drills and Staley said there was a chance that he would be ready for Week 1.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER (4): Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack, Chris Rumph II, Jamal Davis II
The edge features star power in Bosa and Mack, but certainly lacks depth. However, Van Noy, a free agent acquisition, provides the versatility to play outside or inside and the ninth-year pro does not lack for motivation. "I want to prove to people that I can play," said Van Noy, who has played in Detroit, New England and Miami. "Big chip on my shoulder because we're kind of tired of hearing the noise a little bit saying that I can't play in a different system and yada, yada, yada."
CORNERBACK (5): J.C. Jackson, Asante Samuel Jr., Bryce Callahan, Michael Davis, Ja'Sir Taylor
The Chargers went deep into their pockets to sign Jackson in free agency. The Pro Bowl cornerback will be in L.A. for the long haul, but after undergoing ankle surgery on Aug. 23, it remains to be seen if he'll be around for the first two games of the season -- division matchups against the Raiders and Chiefs.
SAFETY (5): Derwin James Jr., Nassir Adderley, Alohi Gilman, Mark Webb Jr., JT Woods
Described by teammates as the "Heartbeat" of the team, James was a training-camp hold-in for three weeks before he signed a four-year, $76.4 million contract that made him the highest-paid safety in NFL history. James' importance to the defense can't be overstated. "It's his just energy," defensive coordinator Renaldo Hill said. "He's positive. He's the communicator in the huddle. He's making everybody's job a lot less difficult..."
SPECIALISTS (3): Dustin Hopkins (K), Josh Harris (LS), JK Scott (P)
Special teams have been a problem for years, and that might be putting it nicely. But the Chargers invested over the offseason by signing Harris and Scott to free agent contracts and extending Hopkins on a three-year, $9 million deal.