The Chargers conclude their extended preseason on Saturday with a matchup against the 49ers. With most of Los Angeles’ starters sitting and backups Trey Lance and Taylor Heinicke only playing a series or two, Saturday will be the last opportunity for many players on the roster bubble to prove they’re worth keeping around.
Here are a few players who need to impress to make a lasting impression heading into cutdown weekend.
CB Nikko Reed
Reed missed the second preseason game against the Saints with an injury, which briefly paused his ascension up the depth chart as an undrafted free agent. Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter told the media Thursday that he feels the Chargers have four starting-caliber corners: Donte Jackson, Cam Hart, Tarheeb Still, and Benjamin St-Juste. Ja’Sir Taylor is the team’s best punt gunner and seems to be safe despite his stop-and-go development defensively. With Deane Leonard missing Thursday’s final camp practice, leaving his status for Saturday uncertain, Reed has an open path to proving that the Chargers need to keep a sixth corner and that it should be him.
RB Raheim Sanders
Sanders is in a similar position as Reed – as a undrafted rookie, he missed a preseason game (for Sanders, it was the Lions game) but has performed well when healthy and now has a chance to make an impact on Saturday with another player in his position room (Kimani Vidal) now dealing with injury. Sanders has arguably been ahead of Vidal as a runner this preseason, but Vidal has been working as a first-team special teamer and could hold some additional value there.
With Najee Harris’ status in question, it’s possible the Chargers keep Sanders and Vidal behind Omarion Hampton and Hassan Haskins if Harris starts on the Non-Football Injury list. But Saturday presents an opportunity for Sanders to ensure he’s on the roster regardless of Harris’ health.
OT David Sharpe
It’s widely assumed that the veteran Sharpe will be the Chargers’ swing tackle to enter the regular season after Los Angeles signed him to take the injured Rashawn Slater’s roster spot. While Sharpe was passable in action last week against the Rams, he’s clearly still working into football shape, which is not exactly an ideal spot to be in with the season two weeks away. Saturday will be a good barometer for Sharpe’s progress and could dictate whether or not Los Angeles is aggressive on the waiver wire or trade market.
LB Marlowe Wax
Wax has been one of the pleasant surprises of the preseason and looked like he could be pushing for a roster spot with Del’Shawn Phillips on the Physically Unable to Perform list. Phillips was activated earlier this week and mentioned by special teams coordinator Ryan Ficken as a core special teamer, seemingly suggesting that he’ll be on the Week 1 roster despite missing nearly all of training camp.
Could Wax change the staff’s mind with a strong game on Saturday? Junior Colson is also now injured and could be put on short-term IR on cutdown day depending on the severity of his injury, which could also potentially open a spot.
EDGE Tre’Mon Morris-Brash
Caleb Murphy has been the story of the preseason on the edge, but Morris-Brash has quietly matched Murphy’s performance defensively while providing an edge in run defense. Murphy is a more talented special teamer – he forced a fumble on kickoff coverage against the Lions – but Morris-Brash has made strides in that phase as well. An explosive final showing on Saturday if Murphy doesn’t match him again could make the fifth spot a tough decision for the Chargers front office.
This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: 5 Chargers players on the roster bubble who must impress vs. 49ers
Reporting by Alex Katson, Chargers Wire / Chargers Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
