The Los Angeles Chargers‘ 2022 season ended in the most devastating possible way — with the Bolts collapsing and coughing up a 27-point lead to the Jaguars in the AFC Wild Card Round. As Justin Herbert enters his fourth NFL campaign, can the Chargers become one of the AFC’s elite teams? Or will they be permanently stuck behind Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in the AFC West?
Let’s take a look back at Los Angeles’ offseason moves as we preview the Chargers’ 2023 campaign.
Everything You Need Ahead of the Los Angeles 2023 NFL Season
While the Chargers’ roster might not look all that different in 2023, the club’s coaching staff changes could determine Los Angeles’ success or failure next season.
Los Angeles Chargers Roster Changes
- Players Signed
- QB Easton Stick
- WR Jalen Guyton
- TE Donald Parham Jr.
- OT Trey Pipkins
- C Will Clapp
- DT Morgan Fox
- DT Nicholas Williams
- LB Eric Kendricks
- P J.K. Scott
- Players Drafted
- WR Quentin Johnston
- EDGE Tuli Tuipulotu
- LB Daiyan Henley
- WR Derius Davis
- OT Jordan McFadden
- DT Scott Matlock
- QB Max Duggan
- Players Lost
- QB Chase Daniel
- WR Michael Bandy
- WR DeAndre Carter (Raiders)
- OT Storm Norton (Saints)
- G Matt Feiler (Buccaneers)
- EDGE Derrek Tuszka
- EDGE Kyle Van Noy
- DT Christian Covington (Lions)
- DT Breiden Fehoko (Steelers)
- DT Joe Gaziano (Falcons)
- LB Troy Reeder (Vikings)
- LB Drue Tranquill (Chiefs)
- CB Bryce Callahan
- S Nasir Adderley (Retired)
The Chargers will bring back much of their roster from 2022, as their only significant external free agent addition was linebacker Eric Kendricks, who signed a one-year deal after being released by the Vikings. Kendricks could end up playing more snaps than holdover Kenneth Murray Jr. (who’s been a disappointment through three seasons), but off-ball linebackers typically don’t move the needle.
Quentin Johnston isn’t a pure speed receiver, but he should add another dimension to Los Angeles’ offense, even if he has to compete with Joshua Palmer for WR3 snaps at the beginning of his career. Keenan Allen and Mike Williams dealt with injury issues last year, while Allen could be gone as soon as 2024, so Johnston gives the Chargers depth and upside in both the immediate and long terms.
L.A. desperately needed another edge rusher to handle reps behind Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack (especially given that Kyle Van Noy hasn’t been re-signed). They added Tuli Tuipulotu in the second round, but as with Johnston, there are questions about how much a rookie can contribute in Year 1. It won’t be a surprise if general manager Tom Telesco adds another pass rusher before the season gets underway.
The secondary is also a question mark. J.C. Jackson looked like a disaster of a free agent signing last season and was briefly benched before suffering a season-ending patellar tendon injury. The Chargers are extremely thin behind presumptive cornerback starters Asante Samuel Jr. and Michael Davis, while Alohi Gilman will be counted as a full-time starter following Nasir Adderley’s retirement.
Los Angeles Chargers Coaching Staff in 2023
- Head Coach: Brandon Staley
- Offensive Coordinator: Kellen Moore
- QB coach: Doug Nussmeier
- RB coach: Derrick Foster
- WR coach: Chris Beatty
- TE coach: Kevin Koger
- OL coach: Brendan Nugent
- Passing game specialist: Tom Arth
- Defensive Coordinator: Derrick Ansley
- DL coach/run game coordinator: Jay Rodgers
- LB coach: Jeff Howard
- OLB coach: Giff Smith
- Front seven specialist: Mike Hiestand
- Secondary coach/passing game coordinator: Tom Donatell
- Special Teams Coordinator: Ryan Ficken
Derrick Ansley is taking over for Renaldo Hill as defensive coordinator, but given that Brandon Staley calls L.A.’s defensive plays, that change might not have much of an effect. But the Chargers’ shift at offensive coordinator could have serious ramifications.
Former OC Joe Lombardi’s offense had grown stale over his two seasons with the Bolts. In the passing game, Herbert didn’t have options down the field and ranked 39th among 40 qualifying quarterbacks in average depth of target last year.
That’s an unacceptable strategy for a passer with Herbert’s arm talent, and new play-caller Kellen Moore should be able to rectify the issues in the Chargers’ scheme. The Cowboys ranked eighth in expected points added per play during Moore’s four years in charge, and that includes a 2020 campaign in which Dak Prescott only appeared in five games.
Predicting the Los Angeles Chargers Depth Chart
Offensive Depth Chart
- QB: Justin Herbert, Easton Stick, Max Duggan
- RB: Austin Ekeler, Isaiah Spiller, Joshua Kelley, Larry Rountree III
- WR: Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Quentin Johnston, Joshua Palmer, Jalen Guyton, Derius Davis
- TE: Gerald Everett, Donald Parham Jr., Tre’ McKitty
- LT: Rashawn Slater, Foster Sarell
- LG: Zion Johnson, Brenden Jaimes
- C: Corey Linsley, Will Clapp
- RG: Jamaree Salyer, Jordan McFadden
- RT: Trey Pipkins, Andrew Trainer
Defensive Depth Chart
- DT: Sebastian Joseph-Day, Austin Johnson, Morgan Fox, Nick Williams, Otito Ogbonnia, Scott Matlock
- EDGE: Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack, Tuli Tuipulotu, Chris Rumph
- LB: Eric Kendricks, Kenneth Murray Jr., Daiyan Henley, Nick Niemann
- CB: Asante Samuel Jr., Michael Davis, J.C. Jackson, Ja’Sir Taylor, Deane Leonard, Kemon Hall
- S: Derwin James, Alohi Gilman, JT Woods, Raheem Layne
Special Teams Depth Chart
- K: Cameron Dicker
- P: JK Scott
- LS: Josh Harris
- KR: Derius Davis
- PR: Derius Davis
2022 Results and Standings
After narrowly missing out on the postseason in 2021, the Chargers were a popular playoff pick heading into the 2022 campaign. But their season was hardly seamless. After a Week 13 loss to the Raiders, Los Angeles owned a 6-6 record and was looking up at the AFC playoff race.
Staley’s defense dominated the Dolphins’ high-powered offense in a Week 14 Sunday night victory, and the Chargers ripped off four straight wins to move to 10-6 and assure themselves of a postseason berth. The Chargers didn’t have much to play for in Week 18, but they still chose to play their starters for the majority of their game against the Broncos.
Mike Williams suffered a back injury in that meaningless contest, perhaps a foreboding sign of what was to come in L.A.’s Wild Card game against the Jaguars (which Williams missed). You probably remember how that tilt turned out.
The Chargers blew a 27-point lead to Jacksonville, marking the third-largest playoff collapse in NFL history. The Jags outscored Los Angeles 24-3 in the second half, while Trevor Lawerence led a 10-play, 61-yard drive in the fourth quarter that culminated in a game-winning field goal. This was “Charger-ing” defined.
2023 Power Ranking and Season Outlook
The Chargers rank 15th in Dalton Miller’s post-draft power rankings, which puts them just outside the field of surefire playoff contenders. Los Angeles is the No. 8 AFC team in our power rankings behind the Chiefs, Bengals, Bills, Jets, Dolphins, Jaguars, and Ravens.
As has been the case in recent years, the Chargers have a top-heavy roster. Their frontline talent can compete with any roster in the NFL, but their depth is lacking. L.A. fought through injuries to its receivers, left tackle Rashawn Slater, Bosa, and center Corey Linsley last season, but the Bolts could have done more to address their second level of reinforcements this offseason.
While the Chargers should be able to compete for a postseason slot in 2023, they face the unfortunate reality of playing in the same division as Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid. The AFC West runs through Kansas City until further notice, leaving Los Angeles to compete for a Wild Card berth.
Given the level of competition in the conference, a Wild Card entry is no sure thing. Not only do the Chargers have to play the Chiefs twice, but they’ll be forced to face the entire AFC East (arguably the best division in football) plus difficult opponents like the Cowboys, Lions, and Ravens. Pro Football Network’s strength of schedule model pegs L.A. with the NFL’s eighth-most challenging slate of opponents next season.
Herbert will likely be extended this offseason and remain in blue and gold for the foreseeable future, but the 2023 campaign could be make-or-break for Staley and his staff. After last year’s playoff catastrophe, Staley may need to win a postseason game in order to save his job.