The San Diego Chargers (1-2) and the Arizona Cardinals (1-2) play the final preseason game for both teams on Thursday at Qualcomm Stadium. The game starts at 10 p.m. ET, and will be shown on a delayed broadcast locally because not enough tickets were sold to lift the local blackout.
This game is unusual in that both teams will meet 10 days later in the regular-season opener at University of Phoenix Stadium next week. Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians already said his starters will not play on Thursday, and expect Chargers head coach Mike McCoy to follow suit. San Diego starters such as Ryan Mathews and Antonio Gates worked on the team’s scout squad at practice this week.
Also, expect pretty basic play-calling schematically, which A) should allow players competing for spots at the tail end of the roster to play fast and B) will keep the teams from giving up any scheme secrets since they meet again next week.
McCoy said Thursday provides a final audition for fringe players to show what they can do.
“We have a good idea right now if you put it on paper how we’re going to do things,” McCoy said. “But there’s going to be one or two guys that are going to step up, and there will be a guy or two that may not play as well, so you’ve got to make some tough decisions.
"We’ve got a number of battles still going on this week. Certain guys will be very limited in the game, and other guys will get to play a ton.”
That said, here’s three things to watch for on Thursday:
1. Defensive line play: With Sean Lissemore (ankle) and Lawrence Guy (shoulder) likely out, the Chargers have to develop some depth along the defensive line. Fifth-round selection Ryan Carrethers likely will get the start at defensive tackle for Lissemore, and needs to prove he can hold his own with the first unit. But players like Tenny Palepoi, Doug Worthington and Chas Alecxih also will get opportunities to prove they should remain with the organization.
2. Grice or Oliver? Sixth-round selection Marion Grice and undrafted rookie free agent Branden Oliver are in a battle for the fourth running back spot on the active roster, should the Chargers choose to keep four running backs. Both have flashed during preseason play, but I give Grice the edge here as the draft pick. Plus, he’s a bigger body who provides more versatility on special teams. However, don’t count out Oliver and his playmaking ability. If one makes the 53-man roster, the other could wind up on the practice squad.
3. Time for Sorensen to shine: You can’t sugarcoat second-year quarterback Brad Sorensen’s performance against San Francisco last week -- it was awful. Now, offensive coordinator Frank Reich said his team’s offensive struggles in the second half against the 49ers weresn’t just Sorensen’s fault. But the quarterback is the one leading the show, and Sorensen needs to play better against Arizona. Reich said the team will consider Sorensen’s full body of work in making a decision on if he sticks around. But a solid performance against the Cardinals would help keep Sorensen around. The Chargers also could consider keeping two quarterbacks and trying to sneak Sorensen through waivers and onto the practice squad, using the extra roster spot for more defensive line depth.