The Los Angeles Chargers reached their 53-man roster ahead of the league’s deadline Tuesday, but like the other 31 NFL teams, some decisions will be scrutinized.
This team won’t be the Chargers of recent years. This is the first time Jim Harbaugh has designed a 53-man roster the way he wants it to be, and some of the moves that have been made weren’t anticipated by most in the media.
That said, here’s the first look at the team’s 53-man roster for the 2024 season.
#Chargers initial list of 53 players pic.twitter.com/J2O5H1n3ko
— Daniel Popper (@danielrpopper) August 27, 2024
What struck you?
The biggest surprises on the Chargers’ 53-man roster
Easton Sticks
Despite a preseason that can only be described as disastrous, Easton Stick remains the Chargers’ backup quarterback. The Cleveland Browns ended up keeping four quarterbacks and it was heavily speculated that if they released Dorian Thompson-Robinson or Tyler Huntley, the Chargers would pick them up on waivers.
They kept both of them.
Hopefully Justin Herbert’s plantar fasciitis injury doesn’t turn into a big problem, because if the Chargers have to turn to Stick in big games, things could get ugly.
Chargers retain 7 receivers
Some teams kept only four, while others kept five. The Chargers kept seven. Many predictions had seventh-round pick Brenden Rice out of the running, but the team clearly felt he wouldn’t be accepted off waivers and placed on the practice squad and still had plans for him.
Donald Parham released
This will probably be considered controversial by some, but Donald Parham, despite being on the team for the last four seasons, simply doesn’t fit what Harbaugh wants in a tight end, despite his success in the red zone.
The Chargers kept Will Dissly, Hayden Hurst and Stone Smartt as their only tight ends.
Tre’Mon Morris-Brash misses 53
Arguably the team’s most impressive undrafted rookie this season, Tre’Mon Morris-Brash had a tremendous summer for the team, but it wasn’t enough as the Chargers opted to keep just four edge rushers: Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack, Tui Tuipolotu and Bud Dupree.
He will be a sure addition to the practice squad if he is cleared on waivers.
Tony Jefferson and JT Woods both achieve this
The prevailing idea was that these two were fighting for a spot and Tony Jefferson made a tough decision after a huge performance in the pre-season finale.
Would the Chargers have preferred the veteran or the young former third-round pick? Instead, the team found a way to keep them both.
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