COSTA MESA, Calif. -- The Los Angeles Chargers will open the 2021 season at the Washington Football Team on Sept. 12. The Chargers went 7-9 last season, missing the playoffs but ending on a four-game winning streak.
It's certain that the Chargers have a better lineup with which to work. With head coach Brandon Staley in charge of the defense, and calling the defensive plays from that position for the first time since the late Marty Schottenheimer era of the mid 2000s, they will have a bonafide defensive leader. He turned the Rams into the best defense in the league ... and played quarterback once upon a time, so knows the value in Herbert. So why not the Chargers?
The roster will be cut to 53 players by 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday. Here is a roster projection.
QUARTERBACK (3): Justin Herbert, Chase Daniel, Easton Stick
Because of what happened just before the start of the second game last season -- when a team doctor accidentally punctured the lung of starter Tyrod Taylor with a pain-killing shot -- the Chargers will keep three QBs. Stick was with the team all last season (now in his third year) and Daniel is a veteran who knows new offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi's offense. Both have performed well in the preseason. Don't expect the Chargers to take any chances at this position.