Projecting Chargers’ defensive depth chart for Week 1 vs. Dolphins

The Chargers are just days away from their season opener against the Dolphins

The positions are set after finalizing their 53-man roster, but the team has yet to release the official depth chart.

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So let’s dive into how the defensive side of the ball could shape up heading into the 2023 season, highlighting who is likely to start and serve as depth pieces behind them.

Defensive line

	Starter	Backup	Reserve
DT	Sebastian Joseph-Day	Christopher Hinton
NT	Austin Johnson	Nick Williams
DE	Morgan Fox	Scott Matlock

Johnson will start the season on the active roster after fracturing his left knee and injuring his MCL, while Otito Ogbonnia is on the reserve/PUP list. It remains to be seen if Johnson will be a full-go. If not, Williams, Hinton and Matlock should see split-up snaps.

Edge defender

	Starter	Backup	Reserve
EDGE1	Joey Bosa	Tuli Tuipulotu
EDGE2	Khalil Mack	Chris Rumph II

Bosa and Mack will be the starters. There is plenty of excitement around that tandem after Bosa missed most of the 2022 season with a groin injury. Tuipulotu should see the field in third-down situations. Rumph will be mixed in too, but he will primarily be a special teamer.

Inside Linebacker

	Starter	Backup	Reserve
ILB1	Eric Kendricks	Tanner Muse	Amen Ogbongbemiga
ILB2	Kenneth Murray	Daiyan Henley	Nick Niemann

Kendricks and Murray are the starters in the middle of the defense. As for the rest of the group, they will be making their money on special teams.

Cornerback

	Starter	Backup
CB1	J.C. Jackson	Deane Leonard
CB2	Michael Davis
Nickel	Asante Samuel Jr.	Ja’Sir Taylor

The biggest question that still looms is whether or not Jackson will be ready for Week 1. Luckily, the Chargers have the depth regardless of the outcome. If Jackson is not ready, Samuel will start on the outside opposite Davis with Taylor in the slot. If Jackson is ready, Samuel was the slot corner battle over Taylor and would start there with Jackson and Davis on the outside.

Safety

	Starter	Backup	Reserve
FS	Alohi Gilman	JT Woods	AJ Finley
SS	Derwin James	Raheem Layne

James and Gilman are the starting safeties. Woods will be the third safety behind them. When James is playing “Star” or “Money” in sub packages, a safety must come on to replace him in the deep part of the field, which will be Woods. He flashed in the summer, showing off his coverage skills and improvement as a tackler. Can it materialize when the games matter?