6 Players to Watch During Chargers-Texans Week 1 Preseason Game

The Los Angeles Chargers utilized a travel day on Wednesday and arrived in Houston, Texas, on the eve of their first preseason game. The Chargers and Texans face off at 5 p.m. on Thursday in a game that will not feature the regular starting lineup from the Chargers side.

The game will be the first true NFL action for the 2026 rookie class. There are several rookies with big questions to answer and there are several players locked in position and role battles who will have their first chance at making an impression against an opponent. Let's dive into players that require extra attention in this first matchup.

Jake Slaughter, rookie offensive lineman

The Chargers drafted Jake Slaughter out of the University of Florida in the second round. Slaughter was a career center and the Chargers have hoped to transition him to guard and have him compete for the vacant starting left guard job.

As a prospect, Slaughter faced questions over his strength and ability to anchor against NFL-caliber defensive linemen. The Texans may not throw their starting lineup at Slaughter, but they have a deep defensive line and Slaughter will be put to the test.

Slaughter is currently in what appears to be a three-way battle for the starting job with veteran Kayode Awosika and second-year player Branson Taylor. Thursday night will provide a major test for Slaughter to see how he stacks up against the other challengers.

Genesis Smith, rookie saftey

Chargers safety Genesis Smith at training camp at The Bolt. — Jul 30, 2026; El Segundo, CA, USA; Los Angeles Chargers safety Genesis Smith (22) at training camp at The Bolt. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Genesis Smith fell to the fourth round of the draft where the Chargers selected him with their third pick of the round out of the University of Arizona. Smith has excellent instincts and great center field cover skills. He faced a massive question over his tackling in college and it was the reason he fell in the draft.

There will be no hiding from his weakness in his first NFL action. If he can prove his tackling issues were left behind in college, Smith could see a much larger role than originally anticipated for the defensive back room.

Nadame Tucker, rookie edge rusher

Nadame Tucker went undrafted out of Western Michigan despite leading the country in several pass-rushing categories. He is slightly undersized and an older rookie but his pass rush production, play style and connections to the coaching staff have him facing elevated expectations.

Tucker is the only undrafted rookie on the Chargers unofficial depth chart that is not listed last in their position group. He will be in a fierce battle with second-year edge rusher Kyle Kennard for potentially a final roster spot in the edge rusher room. Tucker has been destroying the Chargers backup tackles in practice with his violent and heavy-handed play style. Kennard has been playing well at practice too. Starting with the Texans, the preseason games will be a big factor for this battle and whether Tucker can perform to the expectations.

Junior Colson, third year linebacker

Junior Colson was once viewed as the top off-ball linebacker prospect in the 2024 draft. The Chargers selected him in the third round and unfortunately, the football gods have been cruel to Colson hitting him with injury after injury.

Colson will be facing a competition for a roster spot with the depth of the Chargers linebacker room leaving no room for error. Colson will need a dominant preseason for a shot at the roster and the physical Houston Texans will provide him the perfect showcase if he can seize the moment.

DJ Uiagalelei, second year quarterback

The Chargers do not have an open quarterback competition behind Justin Herbert, not yet at least. DJ Uiagalelei signed with the Chargers as an undrafted free agent following the 2025 draft in a return to his roots in Southern California.

Uiagalelei has been grinding and improving since his arrival in Los Angeles. Mike McDaniel's new offense seemed to click with him and he looked great in OTAs and has continued performing well throughout training camp. He got his first run with the second team on Tuesday and a big performance against the Texans could go a long way to inserting himself into a bigger quarterback battle.

Avery Smith, rookie cornerback

Avery Smith was one of the most sought-after undrafted free agents and the Chargers landed him. Smith has long been favored amongst the UDFAs to have a shot to make the 53-man roster and he has lived up to the billing so far in training camp.

He will be in a battle against several other defensive backs for roster spots and his first action against the Texans can set the tone for the battle throughout the last few weeks of camp.

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