NFL Preseason is here, and it’s an exciting time. Throughout the rest of the preseason, there are still a few questions that many wonder about with every team. Next up on the list is the Los Angeles Chargers, who just played in the Hall of Fame preseason game against the Detroit Lions, and they dominated. The Chargers won the game 34-7. Here are the top five questions for them.
Where to even begin with the wide receiver room for the Chargers? Well, Ladd McConkey is the obvious #1 receiver, but who is the next best option? Will it be Mike Williams? Wait, scratch that, he has officially chosen to retire from the NFL. Such a shame that guy couldn’t stay healthy, as he was a very talented player. With this announcement, the Chargers will have to rely on other options.
Well, when looking at the many options, there is one receiver that is on borrowed time, and that is Quentin Johnston. He has been a player who has had more lowlights than highlights since becoming a Charger. At least in his 2nd season, he looked better, scoring 8 touchdowns, but Johnston’s drops have been a big problem.
This has to be the season where Johnston finally breaks out because if he doesn’t, the Chargers will likely decline his 5th year and plan to move on from him. Heck, they just used a 2nd round pick on Tre Harris, so it can’t be ruled out. Looking back, what were they thinking, taking Johnston over Jordan Addison and Zay Flowers?
On July 4th, 2025, Najee Harris, along with multiple other people, was injured in a firework accident. He suffered an eye injury as a result, and it’s unknown when he will return to the field. On a side note, what the heck was Najee thinking to even want any part of fireworks? Especially with what happened with Jason Pierre-Paul, that should have been the wakeup call for players not to ever get involved with them, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.
This was the worst thing that could have happened to Harris, as he was competing with 1st-round rookie Omarion Hampton, and he was losing snaps as a result. As of now, there have been no updates regarding Harris’s eye injury. He will need to heal quickly, as Kimani Vidal was impressive against the Lions with his 2-touchdown performance.
When looking at the Chargers’ first-round picks used in the first round, Quentin Johnston isn’t the only player who has gotten the first-round bust label. So has offensive guard/center Zion Johnson, who has been extremely inconsistent. He has been very mediocre through most of his career and has struggled to adapt to the NFL level.
It also does not help that Johnson suffered an ankle injury at the end of the season, too, and he’s been moved to the center position. With the Chargers upgrading their guards with the addition of Mekhi Becton and permanently putting Bozeman at guard, Johnson has to stand out at center. Can he get out of the bust territory this year, or is it too late?
The Chargers’ tight end crew is very intriguing, one full of promising options. Currently, the three best options on the team are Will Dissly, Tyler Conklin, and Oronde Gadsden. Dissly always has the talent on the field, but injuries have derailed him. Tyler Conklin is a solid tight end, but he’s on a one-year prove-it deal with the team.
Oronde Gadsden is an intriguing one as the Chargers used a fifth-round pick on him, and he has a ton of potential as a vertical pass-catching threat. This franchise is high on him as they traded up during the 2025 NFL Draft to get him. It’s an intriguing spot, as, after Ladd McConkey, there is an unknown who Justin Herbert’s 2nd reliable target would be, and whoever wins the tight end starting spot could be that guy.
When looking at the current depth chart for the Chargers on defense, it’s obvious what their biggest weakness is: the run defense, especially on the defensive line, which is terrible. The only player on that defensive line that is intriguing is third-round rookie Jamaree Caldwell, who has a ton of potential as a run stopper. He’s a liability as a pass rusher, though, and the Chargers should keep him at interior defensive tackle. Besides him, there aren’t any great options, and it’s very perplexing what this team’s plan is with the run defense. This weakness could hold this team back, and in the AFC West, it will be a challenge for them to stop the run.
Those are the Top 5 questions that remain for the Los Angeles Chargers. Do you agree? What other questions do you have regarding the Los Angeles Chargers? Let me know in the comment section, and don’t forget to give the article a like as well. Make sure you check out other NFL content on Stadium Rant as well.
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