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Coach Jim Harbaugh said roughly 15 starters won’t play in the Chargers’ preseason opener against the Houston Texans, and there are several spots on the depth chart that still need to be decided.
“The preseason games will give us a window of insight into where everybody is,” Harbaugh said.
Here are five position groups to monitor when the Chargers face the Texans on Thursday at 5 p.m. PDT (CBS, NFL+).
Who will line up to the left of center Tyler Biadasz remains to be determined.
A competition has been brewing all summer between rookie Jake Slaughter, Trey Pipkins, Kayode Awosika, Trevor Penning and Branson Taylor.
Slaughter appears to be in the lead, with Awosika and Taylor behind.
“Jake Slaughter had a great weekend,” Harbaugh said Tuesday. “If we were right up to the minute right now, [I] really liked [Slaughter’s] tape from the weekend — and his confidence. Like, he’s getting it.”
Winning back fans in San Diego continues to be a goal of the Chargers franchise, but coach Jim Harbaugh will always have fond memories of the city.
It’s a given that Biadasz will start at center, Cole Strange at right guard, Joe Alt at right tackle and Rashawn Slater at left tackle.
But the Chargers need someone to seize control of the left guard spot sooner rather than later.
“No one has eliminated themselves from the tournament,” offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel said.
The list might be narrowed by Friday morning.
Unlike the left guard competition, the Chargers believe they have a three-headed monster at tight end with Charlie Kolar, David Njoku and Oronde Gadsden.
