Chargers News: Jim Harbaugh Announces Key Chargers Starters Will Miss Preseason Finale vs. Cowboys

Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh announced that several key starters will not participate in the final preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys. This decision affects about 15 players from both the offensive and defensive units.

While quarterback Justin Herbert is back in practice after recovering from a foot injury, he will also be among those sitting out.

"It was great. He's been mentally engaged the whole time, working extremely hard," Chargers offensive coordinator Greg Roman said, via the team's transcript . "Just wanting to get back out there. He's picking up right where he left off."

The Chargers have lost their last two preseason games, making this final matchup a crucial opportunity for younger players to showcase their skills before roster cuts next week.

Among those to watch are rookie wide receiver Brenden Rice, Quentin Johnston, and JT Woods.

Johnston, who was expected to be the team's fourth receiver, has struggled with consistency and dropped passes, leading to speculation about a potential trade.

Rice, on the other hand, has impressed during training camp and could secure a spot in the receiving corps alongside Ladd McConkey, D.J. Chark, and Joshua Palmer.

In the secondary, Woods is transitioning from safety to outside cornerback. This change could provide him with a chance to make a significant impact, especially since he has focused solely on cornerback duties in recent practices.

"I would say it's one of those things that's easy in theory, very hard in execution," Woods said . "From an Xs and Os standpoint, I pretty much know everything just from the safety standpoint the way that I've approached safety, that I've learned from the older guys that is you kind of want to know everybody else's position around you.

"Schematically, I know everything, it's just more about getting physical reps because the technique is completely different," Woods added. "It's a whole different world out there."

With many starters sidelined, fans will have the chance to see players who typically don’t get much playing time during the regular season. This game will serve as a final opportunity for these athletes to make their case for a spot on the roster.