Ballin on the Bubble: The Most Surprising Chargers to Make/Miss the 53-Man Roster
- Tyler Lawrence
- Aug 26
- 3 min read
Miss - RB Rahiem “Rocket” Sanders
Raheim Sanders narrowly missed the initial 53-man roster, made possible with the Chargers adding Najee Harris to the active roster and the Chargers decision to roster just three running backs. The undrafted free agent was 1st-Team All-SEC in 2022 while rushing at Arkansas. He averaged 6.5 yards per carry on a 1,443 yard season that included 10 scores that year, but he couldn’t find the same success when he returned in 2023 or transferred to South Carolina in 2024. The NFL was not quite as impressed with Sanders’s resume, allowing Sanders to go un-drafted, but Joe Hortiz made Sanders a priority signing after the draft.
Sanders got a slow start to training camp, missing the Hall of Fame game against the Detroit Lions, but he did play well in the next 3 preseason games. He had 28 total carries, for 101 yards and 2 scores. He also caught all 5 targets for 29 yards as well. The expectation is that he returns to the Chargers practice squad, with a chance to push for the game day roster throughout the season. There is also a chance he is claimed through waivers, but players who go undrafted are rarely claimed.
Trade Alert - OT Austin Deculus
The Chargers traded a conditional 2027 7th-round pick to the Houston Texans for some offensive tackle help. Austin Deculus was a 2022 6th-round draft pick out of LSU who comes in at a whopping 6’5, 321 pounds. Deculus played a lot of preseason football, with 153 snaps, allowing 1 sack and 6 total pressures. He did not grade well by PFF standards, with a 44.6 RBLK grade and 36.4 PBLK grade, but Joe Hortiz and the scouting staff saw enough to take a flyer on the player, with hopes that he can develop into a capable backup this season. The team opted for just 8 offensive lineman to include depth pieces in C Andre James and OG/OT Jamaree Salyer.
Miss…but Make - S Tony Jefferson
The release of fan favorite Tony Jefferson may come as a surprise, but that does not mean that Jefferson will not be part of the roster when it’s all said and done. This is simply roster gymnastics, where teams will often cut a veteran, in hopes of shielding younger players from waivers. Due to Jefferson’s veteran status, the Chargers do not need Jefferson to make the 53-man roster to keep him from other teams. This is more of a handshake agreement between a player who wants to be apart of this organization, and the front office that does value his veteran leadership. Jefferson had this same sort of deal last offseason. Also noteworthy, the Chargers are keeping both Kendall Williamson and RJ Mickens.
Make - CB Nikko Reed
Nikko Reed helped Oregon to an undefeated regular season, and berth into the College Football Playoff last season with 7 pass deflections, 2 interceptions and 36 total tackles. He was a regular in Daniel Poppers training camp analysis on The Athletic, and he showed up on game day during the preseason. He finished with PFF grades of 88.3 DEF grade and 91.1 COV grade (which the the 7th highest grade among cornerbacks this preseason). He allowed 3 receptions of 16 total yards on 10 targets through 3 games, including an interception. He may have had the strongest preseason among all Chargers bubble players and earned a spot on the Chargers 53-man roster.
Other Surprising moves
The Chargers decided to roster TE Tucker Fisk, who provides both special teams ability and blocking ability. The likely cut here was a 4th running back to the roster, whether that be Raheim Sanders or Kimani Vidal
LB Marlowe Wax and Edge rusher Caleb Murphy made a strong push for roster spots. Wax and Murphy were defensive stalwarts during the preseason. The Chargers did not list LB Junior Colston, as he is headed to the PUP list and is a candidate to return in 4 weeks. There are only 4 linebackers listed on the roster, for now.
CB Eric Rogers had the best game of anyone in the first preseason game, taking an interception to the house and breaking up multiple passes. Surprisingly, the Chargers are keeping 7 cornerbacks. Ever more surprising, if counting safeties to the defensive back room, there are a total of 12 defensive backs! That’s a lot of bodies in a room with a ton of competition!
Listed below is the chargers current 53-man roster!
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Great work Crew!