The Los Angeles Chargers begin training camp this Wednesday morning with a slew of significant changes, including the additions of offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel and defensive coordinator Chris O'Leary, who are expected to reshape the offense and defense respectively.
The biggest storylines will unfold on the field, where five critical roster questions need to be answered before the end of training camp. One of the most pressing concerns is the team's rushing attack, which has relied too heavily on Justin Herbert to carry the load in recent years. In 2025, Kimani Vidal led the backfield with 643 rushing yards and four total touchdowns, while first-round pick Omarion Hampton battled injuries that limited him to nine games, still managing to rush for 545 yards and score five total touchdowns.
McDaniel's arrival is expected to immediately improve the ground game, as his offenses in Miami consistently ranked among the league's best rushing attacks regardless of who was carrying the football. The Chargers also added Keaton Mitchell in free agency, who consistently produced explosive plays whenever he touched the ball. One of the biggest objectives during camp will be establishing the three-man rotation, with Hampton expected to be the lead back, but Vidal and Mitchell should both have meaningful roles in McDaniel's offense.
Another key question is whether a linebacker can challenge Denzel Perryman for his starting job. Perryman has been the starting linebacker next to Daiyan Henley since Harbaugh arrived in Los Angeles, but his availability has been a concern, missing six games in 2024 and another seven in 2025. The Chargers return Troy Dye, Marlowe Wax, and Del'Shawn Phillips, all of whom contributed last season, and are also expecting Junior Colson to emerge as the long-term answer after starring under Harbaugh at Michigan, but injuries have slowed his development.
The Chargers also need to determine who will emerge behind the big three at wide receiver, with Quentin Johnston, Ladd McConkey, and Tre Harris expected to play major roles in McDaniel's offense. The bigger question is who steps up behind them, with Brenen Thompson, a fourth-round pick, bringing elite speed and KeAndre Lambert-Smith flashing throughout training camp last season but struggling to carve out a consistent role during the regular season.
The team's safety position is also a mystery, with four players competing for two, and possibly three, roster spots. Derwin James and Elijah Molden are obvious roster locks, but behind them, safeties coach Adam Fuller will have to decide who to keep. Tony Jefferson remains one of the team's most valuable leaders, finishing fourth on the team with 57 tackles last season while adding seven passes defended and four interceptions.
Finally, the Chargers need to determine how many edge rushers they will keep, with the defense built around its pass rush and replacing Odafe Oweh's 10 sacks won't be easy. The group is led by Kha, but the team will have to decide whether to keep four or five edge rushers, a decision that will have significant implications for the team's defensive strategy.
Training camp is set to begin on Wednesday morning, and all eyes will be on the field to see how these roster questions are answered. The Chargers' season will depend on their ability to resolve these issues, and fans are eagerly awaiting the first practice to see how the team will shape up.
Source: Yahoo Sports
