The Chargers might need to go heavy up front on both sides of the ball, at least early in the regular season.

Joey Bosa reporting late – if he reports at all – will likely necessitate a seventh defensive lineman. And the emergence of undrafted rookie center Spencer Pulley, who has outshone third-round pick Max Tuerk to date, means he has to stay on the roster, lest another team steal him.

It also appears the Chargers’ fifth-round rookie linebacker is outshining their fourth-round rookie linebacker, and a veteran linebacker is on the bubble.

That and more is revealed in our first crack at a 53-man roster, in advance of the Chargers’ preseason opener Saturday night in Tennessee:


Quarterback

Philip Rivers

Kellen Clemens

Zach Mettenberger: Needs more consistency. Physical skills are there.


Running back

Melvin Gordon

Danny Woodhead

Branden Oliver


Derek Watt: Forget the bloodlines. Derek making a name for himself in camp.

Wide receiver

Keenan Allen

Travis Benjamin


Tyrell Williams: Still growing, but no player on offense has improved more.

Dontrelle Inman

James Jones

Tight end


Antonio Gates

Hunter Henry

Jeff Cumberland: Can flat run. And he has ample blocking experience with how the Jets used (misused?) him.

Sean McGrath


Offensive line

King Dunlap

Orlando Franklin

Matt Slauson


D.J. Fluker

Joe Barksdale

Max Tuerk

Chris Hairston


Spencer Pulley: Had been Chargers’ best rookie offensive lineman before an injury early in camp.

Kenny Wiggins

(Chris Watt, PUP, does not count against active roster.)

Defensive line


Joey Bosa

Brandon Mebane

Corey Liuget

Darius Philon: A clear upgrade over Kendall Reyes. No matter what happens with Bosa, Chargers better at LE1.


Tenny Palepoi

Damion Square

Ryan Carrethers

Outside linebacker


Melvin Ingram: Last year was his best training camp — until this year.

Kyle Emanuel:

Jerry Attaochu

Tourek Williams: Needs preseason to prove he can return to pre-injury form. Otherwise, it’s Ben Gardner or a player on another club.


Inside linebacker

Manti Te’o

Denzel Perryman

Jatavis Brown: He may have been drafted after Perry, but his athleticism is second to none in this group.


Nick Dzubnar

Joshua Perry

Cornerback

Jason Verrett


Brandon Flowers

Casey Hayward: Patrick Robinson was a gem in the slot last season. Hayward is better.

Craig Mager

Steve Williams


Safety

Jahleel Addae

Dwight Lowery

Adrian Phillips


Darrell Stuckey

Long snapper

Mike Windt

Punter


Drew Kaser

Kicker

Josh Lambo