Checking in on San Diego Chargers' Biggest Project Players

The San Diego Chargers have at least five project players to keep note of during training camp, some of whom are destined for larger roles in 2015.

Like most teams this summer, the Bolts plan on finding the best 53 players through competition even if that means pulling talent from the bottom of the roster.

The following five players carry the project label because of the minimal playing time they received last season despite the presence of upside. They may not have been entirely ready a year ago but are now.

Dontrelle Inman

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Inman's first stint in the NFL didn't yield much playing time, as he was among the final roster cuts for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2011, but his return with the Chargers in 2014 was quite the opposite. The former CFL standout played in seven games with the Bolts, but it was the last two that helped showcase his talents on the big stage.

Inman's contribution in the fourth quarter of a must-win game against the San Francisco 49ers included five catches for 55 yards, one of which came on a pivotal fourth down. Ricky Henne of Chargers.com asked receivers coach Fred Graves about Inman's progress over the course of last season, to which he responded:

"

He continues to get better as a player. He understands how to be a professional. When you watch him out on the field after practice, he is probably the last guy out there. He is working on everything. So when at the end of the season you see what he did against San Francisco, those are all the things he’d been working on. 

"

The 26-year-old should get plenty of opportunities in camp to win a spot on the roster despite the additions of Stevie Johnson and Jacoby Jones in free agency. If Inman continues to play well, the Chargers could look to him to one day take over for veteran wideout Malcom Floyd, who is entering the final year of his contract.

Cordarro Law

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Law was among the final roster cuts for the Chargers in 2014, but they liked him enough to sign him to the practice squad. Like Inman, he too was a product of the CFL just looking for a second chance with an NFL team. When injuries struck at outside linebacker, the Chargers promoted Law to the active roster, where he played in three games and recorded nine tackles with one sack.

New linebackers coach Mike Nolan was asked to comment on Law and what he'll bring to the squad this year by Henne of Chargers.com:

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Cordarro has some pass rush ability, but I do know less about Cordarro only because there isn’t as much tape of him from last year. He did play some last year, but less than others.  So I’m getting to learn more about Cordarro now on the practice field more than I did on film. But look, he is a guy who has shown the ability to play in the game. He has done it, and now it is about making the squad and being one of those key guys.

"

The Chargers are hoping to replace veterans Jarret Johnson (retired) and Dwight Freeney (free agent) with younger, more athletic players like Melvin Ingram and Jerry Attaochu. Law is among those in consideration to help restore depth at outside linebacker.

Chris Davis

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Davis was probably the most fortunate of the players listed on here, as he managed to make appearances in 12 games last season as an undrafted rookie. Had it not been for an ankle injury, he might have played more.

The former Iron Bowl hero was slotted in as the team's kick returner for most of the year, where he averaged just over 25 yards per return, but he was also called on to play defense in nickel and dime packages for the Chargers. A role he could potentially expand on, according to GM Tom Telesco.

"He had a great training camp for us," Telesco told members of the media at the scouting combine (h/t Henne of Chargers.com). "He can play a number of different roles for us, either as an inside corner or nickel, or play outside and in the return game."

San Diego appears to be set at corner with Brandon Flowers, Jason Verrett, Patrick Robinson and third-round draft choice Craig Mager, but Davis could factor in as a rotational player in addition to his work on special teams.

Jeremiah Sirles

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Sirles was another of the final roster cuts to make the practice squad and eventually got called up to the active roster because of injuries. His moment came in Week 16 against the 49ers when he replaced injured starter Johnnie Troutman at right guard during the second half.

The undrafted rookie out of Nebraska played well in the come-from-behind effort but not so much in his first career start against the Kansas City Chiefs a week later.

He surrendered sacks to Allen Bailey and Pro Bowler Dontari Poe in the regular-season finale—two of the seven sacks allowed on the day. Still, there is reason to believe Sirles can press Troutman for his starting spot on the offensive line, according to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Javontee Herndon

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Herndon, who signed as an undrafted free agent out of Arkansas in 2014, was unable to crack the 53-man roster, but he stayed on with the Chargers as a member of their practice squad. As Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune reported in August, Herndon's stock was on the rise during training camp, so much so that he was promoted to the second-team offense.

The Chargers like Herndon's upside, according to Eric Williams of ESPN.com, and he could very well challenge for a roster spot this summer along with Inman.