Chargers players to watch in their preseason finale vs. the 49ers

The Chargers play their final exhibition game Friday against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara. Much of their roster appears to be set for the Sept. 10 regular-season opener after 18 practices over four weeks of training camp, but there are several roles that could be solidified Friday.

Roster cuts are due Tuesday, with 53 players selected and a practice squad to be set Wednesday. The roster won’t be set in stone, however. The players who start the season won’t automatically be the ones who end the season due to injuries or inadequate performances.

So, there’s much at stake for a number of Chargers in Friday’s game against the 49ers. There also are issues of trust that must be resolved, if they haven’t been already. The coaching staff must determine if they can rely on a player if their role must suddenly be enhanced later in the season.

With all that in mind, keep an eye on these players during Friday’s game:

EASTON STICK

Someone has to drop the clipboard, swap the headset for a helmet and replace quarterback Justin Herbert if something happens to the NFL’s second-leading passer last season. Going into Friday, that person is Easton Stick, a fifth-year pro from North Dakota State with a limited résumé.

Stick has played only one regular-season game since he was drafted in 2019.

He can cement his backup role with a solid showing against the 49ers. He was effective in the first half against the Rams on Aug. 12, especially while leading a touchdown drive in the two-minute drill before halftime, threading a pass to rookie wide receiver Quentin Johnston for an 8-yard touchdown.

Stick was less impressive while playing the entire game Sunday against the New Orleans Saints. He was fine with his feet, scrambling away from pressure at times and scoring on a designed run that produced a 6-yard touchdown. He appeared harried at times when throwing the ball, however.

Playing a more consistent game against San Francisco certainly would ease the minds of the Chargers’ coaching staff.

THE KICKERS

Cameron Dicker took over for Dustin Hopkins after Hopkins was injured in Week 6 last season. Hopkins was sidelined by an undisclosed injury for most of training camp and for the Chargers’ 34-17 exhibition victory over the Rams before splitting the kicking duties with Dicker in a 22-17 loss to the Saints.

It’s been difficult to determine a winner in their head-to-head competition in camp. Coach Brandon Staley said Wednesday it was undecided who would kick against the 49ers and who would win the job in Tuesday’s cuts. It would seem the Chargers couldn’t go wrong in picking their kicker.

Dicker made 19 of 20 field goals last season; Hopkins made 9 of 10.

JT WOODS

Derwin James Jr. and Alohi Gilman have the starting safety positions locked up, but Woods has been impressive in the final days of camp and during exhibitions against the Rams and Saints. The 2022 third-round pick out of Baylor has been around the ball a great deal, using his speed to stay close to opposing receivers.

Woods is listed as second behind Gilman on the Chargers’ unofficial depth chart going into Friday’s game against the 49ers, and Raheem Layne is listed as second behind James. Woods could solidify his spot as a trusted backup with another impressive showing against San Francisco.

QUENTIN JOHNSTON

First-round draft picks bear the burden of expectations, and Johnston is no exception. Throughout camp and two exhibitions, there has been a sense that Johnston revealed only a glimpse of his potential as a game-breaking wide receiver. He has made a string of excellent catches.

But the former TCU star also dropped a number of passes from Herbert and Stick in camp. While saying he’s not satisified with his play, he said earlier this week he’s developed a bond with Herbert that dates to spring practices. He can extend that to Stick with a strong performance against the 49ers. He’s going to have to earn his role as a backup.