The LA Chargers will conclude the 2024 preseason against the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday. Los Angeles is 0-2 in the preseason and has yet to score a single touchdown as backup quarterbacks Easton Stick and Luis Perez struggle to lead the offense.

The results of these games are completely unimportant for the Chargers, what matters is the individual performances. There are still several roster spots available for the last preseason game of the year, with more players competing than spots available.

Of course, there will be players who will be left out of this process, including players who were drafted from the Chargers in recent years. With a new regime and coaching staff, the same players who got through in the past due to their draft status may not be safe this time around.

1. RB Isaiah Spiller

It’s getting harder and harder to find a place for Isaiah Spiller on this roster. Spiller already had his hands full, having scored in free agent deals with JK Dobbins and Gus Edwards, as well as Kimani Vidal in the 2024 NFL Draft.

This uphill battle became even tougher after Vidal had a stellar game in the second week of the preseason and Jaret Patterson emerged as a better option on the reserve side. Patterson has been getting a lot more playing time on offense than Spiller (who played just seven offensive snaps last weekend), which could be a harbinger of the inevitable.

Spiller got some special teams snaps with the first team during training camp, but that shouldn’t matter much. Spiller has never been a special teams guru and has never played a regular-season special teams snap in his career. Patterson can play special teams, so Spiller doesn’t have a spot on the Chargers’ roster.

2. DB JT Woods

JT Woods switched from safety to cornerback during training camp and that’s his only hope of keeping his spot on the roster this season. Theoretically, the Chargers could use a seventh cornerback with versatility instead of a fourth safety, but if that’s the case, Woods will have to earn it with a stellar performance in the final preseason game of the year.

If not, Woods will likely be one of the last players released by the Chargers and one of the first players signed to the practice squad. That opens up the possibility for Woods to return to the team at some point in the future, but nothing is guaranteed, especially if another team wants to take a chance on his potential.

That change is promising for Woods, but it may have been too little, too late. With other young defensive backs having success in training camp and the preseason, Woods’ chances of making the 53-man roster are dwindling. His future is in his hands on Saturday.

3. WR Cornelius Johnson

As a huge Cornelius Johnson fan, I have to admit this since I just came out of the draft, but it’s hard to imagine him making the Chargers’ 53-man roster unless he has a stellar performance against the Cowboys.

Johnson seemed like a better fit for the roster than Brenden Rice, who was also drafted in the seventh round, because of his blocking ability. However, the signing of DJ Chark has put a damper on things and Johnson hasn’t really impressed in his young career.

Although the spot at the top is rather thin, the Chargers have plenty of depth at the wide receiver position and of course someone will be missing. Joshua Palmer, Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, Chark and Derius Davis are the five surefire candidates for the WR room, leaving Rice, Johnson and veteran Simi Fehoko battling for the final sixth spot.

Even if the Chargers go the unconventional route and use six receivers, both Rice and Fehoko have a better chance of making the roster than Johnson. Johnson will likely remain on the practice squad, but there’s no guarantee he’ll ever play a regular season game for the Bolts.