3 Unlikely Players Who Made The Los Angeles Chargers Final Roster

With the Los Angeles Chargers finalizing their initial 53-man roster, several players surprisingly made the team.

With that being said, here are the three players who were able to crack the roster and demonstrated head coach Jim Harbaugh’s “competitors are welcome” motto.

Los Angeles Chargers, Eric Rogers | CB | #39

Undrafted CB Eric Rogers is by far the most surprising player on this list, defying all odds to make the Chargers’ final roster.

The preseason standout capitalized on his opportunities on the field by notching 2 interceptions, including one for a 43-yard pick-6, against the New Orleans Saints in week 2.

Unfortunately, Rogers didn’t come out unscathed, as he was carted off in the 4th quarter with an ankle injury on special teams, which forced him to miss the rest of the preseason, making his path to the roster even more unlikely.

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The level of play Rogers displayed during the preseason earned him a 97.0 overall PFF grade, which was the highest score for all defensive players in the preseason.

At 6’2″, 189 lbs, the Chargers are betting on his upside as a ball-hawking corner with size to help them match up against larger receivers during the season, similar to the role they envisioned for rookie 7th-rounder (256th Overall) Trikweze Bridges, whom Rogers managed to beat out.

Marlowe Wax | ILB | #58

No one on the Chargers roster boosted their stock more than Marlowe Wax, the undrafted LB out of Syracuse.

A team captain for the Orange, Wax displayed his leadership qualities by communicating on the field and his ability to constantly be near the ball, whether he’s involved in the play or not.

Over the course of the preseason, Wax steadily improved, en route to racking up 20 tackles, which tied for the 2nd most during the preseason. He also added 2 sacks, 1 FF, and 1 PD just for good measure.

The biggest obstacle in Wax’s path to make the roster and what made the news of his making the team so surprising was LB Junior Colson.

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Colson wasn’t playing nearly as well as Wax and dealt with multiple injuries throughout the preseason. Due to his draft capital as a third-round pick last year, however, he was expected to be a roster lock.

Unfortunately for Colson, he was placed on long-term injured reserve, prematurely ending his 2025 season.

When one door closes for someone, another opens. If Wax can build off of what he showed during the preseason, he could carve out a significant role for this team on both defense and special teams.

Kendall Williamson | S | #40

The final player on this list is S Kendall Williamson, who joined the Chargers via waivers last season, spending the majority of the time on the practice squad.

Originally drafted by the Chicago Bears in the 7th round (258th Overall) back in 2023 out of Stanford, Williamson virtually received no buzz throughout training camp, which blindsided most with the Chargers’ decision to keep him.

His ability on special teams and ability to fit the run as a safety on defense have clearly instilled trust into defensive coordinator Jessie Minter, as attested to by the 15 tackles he accumulated in the preseason.

At 6’0″, 203 lbs, he has great athletic upside, with an 8.7 RAS (Relative Athletic Score), while also having familiarity with the defensive scheme. It allows for Minter to comfortably plug and play him on defense, if injuries occur.

It was shocking to see him make it over fan favorite S Tony Jefferson, but Williamson has clearly put in the work and proven that he deserves to be on this roster through his efforts on the field.