Charger wide receiver Simi Fehoko is tackled in the air by Seattle's Ty Okada during a recent home preseason game. Fehoko made the 53 man roster. Their first regular season game is September 8, at SoFi Stadium at 1 p.m. against the Raiders.
Defensive lineman Otito Ogbonnia, a former UCLA player gets ready to make a tackle against the Seahawks in a preseason game. The former Bruin made the Chargers' 53 man roster.
The Los Angeles Chargers, fresh off a preseason 26-19 win over the Dallas Cowboys on last Saturday afternoon, announced last Tuesday their initial 53-man roster for the 2024 NFL regular season. New head coach Jim Harbaugh and new General Manager Joe Hortiz have made some significant changes from the 2023 Chargers roster under the previous leadership.
Quarterback (2): Justin Herbert, Easton Stick
The Chargers are keeping the same two quarterbacks on their roster to start the season as they did in 2023. Stick had an unimpressive preseason, and he could be replaced, but there is no replacing Herbert. On Wednesday evening, multiple news outlets were reporting that the Chargers had acquired Atlanta Falcons quarterback Taylor Heinicke for a conditional 6th round pick. The Chargers had not confirmed those reports, which would require the Chargers to release a player to make room on the 53-man roster for Heinicke.
Running Back (4): J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards, Jaret Patterson and Kimani Vidal.
The Chargers kept four running backs in 2023 and none of them are on the roster in 2024. Dobbins has an injury history at every level he has played at, but when he is healthy, he is a dynamic running back. The 238-pound Edwards will give the Chargers a physical inside running presence and Vidal looks like a future starting running back.
Wide Receiver (7): DJ Chark, Derius Davis, Simi Fehoko, Quentin Johnston, Ladd McConkey, Joshua Palmer and Brenden Rice
The Chargers kept five receivers in 2023, and that turned out to be a mistake. The injuries proved that they were not deep enough at this position, and Johnston had a disappointing rookie season. Only Palmer, Johnston, and Davis return from last year's group. Fehoko was added during the season. Davis is valued for his return skills and his speed. This year's group is younger and deeper with a higher ceiling.
Tight End (3): Will Dissly, Hayden Hurst and Stone Smartt
Only Smartt returns from the four tight ends that made the roster in 2023. Harbaugh wants to run the football and this year's group, starting with Dissly, will be a huge improvement over last season's run blocking group of tight ends. The question with this group is if there is enough receiving talent to scare a defense.
Offensive Line (9): Joe Alt, Bradley Bozeman, Brenden Jaimes, Zion Johnson, Jordan McFadden, Trey Pipkins III, Foster Sarell, Jamaree Salyer and Rashawn Slater
Seven of the nine offensive lineman from last year's group return in 2024. The new additions are first round draft pick Alt from Notre Dame and the free agent acquisition of center Bozeman. Pipkins started at right tackle last season and is moving inside to right guard and Alt will start at right tackle. The Chargers will start three first round picks on the offensive line, none over the age of 25.
Interior Defensive Linemen (6): Justin Eboigbe, Poona Ford, Morgan Fox, Scott Matlock, Otito Ogbonnia and Teair Tart
Fox, Matlock, and Ogbonnia return from last season's squad. Ogbonnia started the 2023 season on the injured reserve. The 2022 fifth round pick from UCLA will be a key player on the defensive like for the Chargers defense. Ford is a run stuffer who played his college football at Texas. He was acquired through free agency and has 64 NFL starts.
Outside Linebackers/Edge Rushers (4): Joey Bosa, Bud Dupree, Khalil Mack and Tuli Tuipulotu
If these guys are healthy, they will make this Chargers team a top ten defense. Bosa, Mack, and Dupree have a combined 221 NFL sacks between them. All three were first round picks when they came out of college. Tuipulotu, a second-round pick from USC who made the All-Rookie team in 2023, is a future star in the league.
Inside Linebackers (4): Junior Colson, Troy Dye, Daiyan Henley and Denzel Perryman
Only Daiyan Henley, a third-round pick in 2023 from Washington State, returns from last season's group. Colson is a 2024 third round pick from Michigan. The future looks bright with Henley and Colson at inside linebacker. Nick Neimann was placed on the injured reserve with a hamstring injury, but he can return for Week 6.
Cornerbacks (7): Kristian Fulton, Cam Hart, Deane Leonard, Asante Samuel, Jr., Tarheeb Still, Ja'Sir Taylor, and Elijah Molden
This is an improved group from last season's cornerback roster. J.C. Jackson was a major flop from last year's group, and he was cut during the 2023 season. Fulton, a former second-round pick out of LSU, was acquired in free agency and has looked good in training camp.
Hart and Still are rookies that have looked like they belong. Molden was acquired on Wednesday for a 2026 7th round pick from the Tennessee Titans. Molden was a third-round draft pick in 2021 out of Washington, where he was a two-time Pac-12 All-conference pick. Molden started 16 games with the Titans and had two interceptions, returning both for touchdowns. To add Molden, the Chargers released JT Woods, who had made the roster initially at cornerback.
Safeties (4): Derwin James, Alohi Gilman, AJ Finley, Tony Jefferson.
James and Gilman return from last season's tandem at safety to give the Chargers one of the best pair of starting safeties in the NFL. Finley also returns from last season's group. Jefferson clinched his spot on the team with his performance against the Cowboys in the preseason finale, with 14 tackles, two interceptions, a forced fumble, and a sack.
Special Teams (3): Cameron Dicker, JK Scott, Josh Harris
A strength of the team, along with All-Pro kick returner Derrius Davis. This could also be a top ten unit in the NFL. Harris was a second-team All-Pro selection in 2021 with the Falcons. Dicker made 31 of 33 field goal attempts in 2023, and all 35 extra point attempts.
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