The initial 53-man rosters for all 32 teams were revealed on Tuesday. The Chargers‘ rendition came with a few mild surprises, but it’s important to remember that it’s just the initial roster.

Let’s examine a few takeaways from the 53 players that general manager Joe Hortiz put on the initial roster:

Surprising RB moves

To start, Najee Harris is on the roster, and all indications suggest he will be ready for Week 1. Beyond Harris and Omarion Hampton, there were question marks all summer long. It felt as if Raheim Sanders had done enough to make the roster, but he was waived and later claimed off waivers by the Browns.

In another surprising move, second-year Kimani Vidal was not included on the roster. Instead, special teams savant Hassan Haskins made the roster as the team’s third running back. Vidal did end up on the team’s practice squad, but the roster reveal isn’t what many expected it to be.

Goodbye veterans

The Chargers opted to carry just two quarterbacks on the roster, which came at the expense of longtime veteran Taylor Heinicke. He lost the backup job to Trey Lance this summer and ultimately became a free agent now at 32 years old.

Safety Tony Jefferson was another veteran who was cut from Tuesday’s roster moves. Many expected him to make it onto the squad due to his versatility and overall experience, but Los Angeles opted for youth in the safety room.

Value of versatility

There are two specific players whose versatility stands out: Scott Matlock and Tucker Fisk. Matlock will primarily serve as a fullback, but he has also logged 403 career snaps along the defensive line. That essentially gives the team a fullback and a seventh defensive lineman all in one.

As for Fisk, his roster spot was a bit more in question coming into the week. While his blocking abilities helped make the roster as the fourth tight end, so did his ability to be the backup long snapper. The regular starter, Josh Harris, was placed on IR.

Surplus of defensive backs

Perhaps the biggest surprise of all, the Chargers opted to carry 12 defensive backs, including seven cornerbacks, on the initial roster. Notably, not one but two undrafted rookies made the team in Nikko Reed and Eric Rogers. Ja’Sir Taylor’s roster spot seemed at risk this summer as well, but the veteran returns for Year 4 in Los Angeles.

Five safeties made the roster as well, which you would’ve thought meant Jefferson was surely a part of the group. Instead, Kendall Williamson snuck onto the roster after he appeared in two games for the Chargers in 2024.

This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: What stood out about the Chargers’ initial 53-man roster?