The Chargers’ exhibition finale Saturday night against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara marks the last chance for rookies and undrafted free agents to impress the coaching staff, pad their résumés on video and, perhaps, earn a spot on the 53-man roster or the 17-man practice squad.
Cutdown day is Tuesday, and not everyone who attended training camp, and even excelled at certain points, will make the team. Some will be cut, some will be claimed by other teams, and some will get to play on with the Chargers. There might even be a trade or two, as there were last year.
Here’s a closer look at six players to watch – three on offense and three on defense – as the Chargers attempt to improve their record to 3-1 in exhibition play, with their season-opening game looming in the not-too-distant future Sept. 5 against the Kansas City Chiefs in Brazil:
OFFENSE
DJ Uiagalelei, QB
The easy storyline would be Trey Lance’s return to play the 49ers, the team that drafted him third overall in 2021. Lance will start against San Francisco, but will only play one or two series, according to coach Jim Harbaugh. Uiagalelei, an undrafted free agent, will play most of the snaps as the coaching staff determines whether it will keep two quarterbacks or three. Lance, Justin Herbert and Taylor Heinicke might be the three quarterbacks if the Chargers decide to go with three, leaving Uiagalelei the odd-man out. However, a solid showing could improve his chances elsewhere. Harbaugh insisted earlier this week that nothing had been decided. Everything and everybody was open for discussion.
Luke Grimm, WR
Grimm nearly returned a punt for a touchdown in the Chargers’ exhibition Aug. 10 against the New Orleans Saints and then did break one for a 66-yard touchdown return against the Rams on Aug. 16. Coaches tend to notice these things. Grimm, an undrafted free agent from the University of Kansas, wasn’t listed on the depth chart under return specialists. He was dead last among the wide receivers. It’s not out of the question that he gets cut and then signed to the practice squad, assuming he’s not claimed by one of the other 31 teams in the NFL. Playmakers are always in demand.
Branson Taylor, LG
So much attention on the Chargers’ offensive line has been focused on left tackle Rashawn Slater’s season-ending knee injury and the shuffle it took to fill the void. The Chargers drafted Taylor in the sixth round in the belief that they needed depth on the O-line, and they were proved right when Slater was hurt in practice only days after signing a four-year, $114-million contract extension. Taylor likely gets another chance to prove his value as a backup to Zion Johnson in the exhibition finale.
DEFENSE
Jamaree Caldwell, DL
The Chargers had to remake their offensive line when Poona Ford signed with the Rams during the offseason and Morgan Fox went to the Atlanta Falcons. So, they drafted Caldwell in the third round as part of their offseason makeover. It would be a stretch to suggest he could become a starter, but then again Caldwell has been fighting the odds and winning since his high school days in South Carolina. He went to two community colleges in Kansas, then the University of Houston before transferring to Oregon and earning honorable mention All-Big Ten honors this past season.
Kyle Kennard, Edge
Joey Bosa’s departure for the Buffalo Bills after the Chargers cut him during the offseason created a job opportunity for Tuli Tuipulotu, and he’s expected to become a starter after filling a depth role the past two seasons. So, where does that leave Kennard, a fourth-round draft pick from South Carolina who had 11.5 sacks last season? Probably on the bubble to make the 53-man roster. There’s plenty of depth at the outside linebacker position, and Kennard is part of that depth.
Trikweze Bridges, CB
On the theory that you can never have too many defensive backs, the Chargers drafted Bridges in the seventh round (256th overall) from Florida. He had a couple of rough days early in training camp and then a few stellar days, as well. He has been one of the Chargers’ leading tacklers over three exhibition games. He was tied for third with veteran cornerback Ja’Sir Taylor with 15 tackles, one behind safety R.J. Mickens and four behind linebacker Emany Johnson.
Chargers at 49ers
When: 5:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara
TV/radio: Ch. 2/KFI 640 AM