Final roster cuts have come and gone, and now all NFL teams are down 53-man rosters. This almost always comes with some surprises as many teams are forced to make tough choices. Let’s take a look at the Los Angeles Chargers roster cuts and discuss some of the surprises or other notable decisions as the team gears up for the start of the season.
Reacting to the 2023 Los Angeles Chargers Roster Cuts
Most Notable Cuts
One of the more interesting cuts was the release of seventh-round rookie Max Duggan. At the time it felt like a wasted pick, but on the flip side, there would at least be chemistry with fellow TCU alum rookies Quentin Johnston and Derius Davis, and with the new emergency quarterback rule, it makes sense to have three on the roster at this point. But instead, Duggan ended up being the only drafted rookie that got cut.
How the defensive line shook out was also interesting. Jerrod Clark looked to be the most likely candidate to get at least a temporary roster spot with Otito Ogbonnia injured (who will in fact be on PUP to start the season). But instead, he was waived and Christopher Hinton got the nod instead. Hopefully Clark will make the practice squad, because he looked like a promising prospect.
Most Notable Keep?
Another surprise was not in who got cut, but who didn’t. Tre McKitty has done very little through two seasons, had a mostly poor training camp, and was outdone by Stone Smartt this preseason. But in the end, both made the final roster along with Gerald Everett and Donald Parham. It’s odd that they would keep four tight ends – especially when one of them clearly seems worse than the others. Perhaps the team simply isn’t willing to admit after only two years that a third-round pick is a bust.
Other Notable Decisions, Including UDFA’s
Jalen Guyton will start the season on PUP, which left the door open for a temporary WR6 like John Hightower or Keelan Doss. However, neither of them nor anyone else made the roster in the end. Still, it’s good to see that there’s enough depth at wide receiver that the team finally elected to keep six of them – we just will not see it for at least a few weeks.
Each year, teams usually have at least one undrafted free agent who surprises everybody and ends up getting a roster spot. This year the main one for the Chargers was Elijah Dotson, who had a strong enough preseason that it got Larry Rountree cut, and eventually earned Dotson a permanent spot. The Chargers have to be excited to find a possible gem this way after repeatedly struggling with running back depth for a few years.
The other undrafted free agent to make the roster was A.J. Finley as a fifth safety. He did fine in the preseason but wasn’t really a huge standout, so Brandon Staley or one of the defensive coaches must have seen something they really liked in him.
Concluding Thoughts
Of course, some of these cut players will end up on the practice squad – perhaps that is where Max Duggan is headed, for instance. Players like Jerrod Clark and Tiawan Mullen are likely headed there as well. Perhaps the most notable thing about this 53-man roster is how some position groups are improved in depth compared to last year (wide receiver, running back, defensive line). That’s always a good thing to see – if players go down, chances are better that someone will be able to step up and fill the void. Regardless, the 53-man roster is set and now the Chargers can prepare for their regular season opener – and their home opener – against the Miami Dolphins.
Main Photo: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
