Kayode Awosika has a real opportunity to take control of the Chargers’ left guard job after Tyler Biadasz’s injury moved Jake Slaughter to center. With Awosika and Trey Pipkins rotating at guard, the competition is far from over.
The Los Angeles Chargers have spent most of training camp trying to figure out who will win the starting left guard job. At this point, it feels like the team is getting closer to an answer, but the competition is still very much alive.
Kayode Awosika has been one of the names in the mix from the beginning. Now, with Jake Slaughter moving to center following Tyler Biadasz’s injury, Awosika has a clearer path to the starting job. However, the Chargers have recently been rotating Awosika and Trey Pipkins at left guard, which makes things a little more interesting.
Awosika has quietly been one of the more consistent options throughout camp. He has experience at guard and has been competing for this position since the offseason. Before Biadasz went down, the Chargers were rotating several players through the position, including Awosika, Slaughter, Trevor Penning and Pipkins.
Now the situation is different.
Slaughter appears to be locked into the center position for the foreseeable future, leaving Awosika and Pipkins as two of the more experienced options at left guard. That could ultimately give Awosika a real opportunity to claim the job.
But Pipkins isn’t exactly an afterthought.
The Chargers have continued giving him reps at left guard, including significant first-team work. Mike McDaniel has previously praised what Pipkins can bring to the position, specifically pointing to his length and ability in pass protection. Pipkins has primarily played tackle during his career, but he does have experience at guard and the Chargers clearly believe he can be effective there.
Jim Harbaugh has also made it clear that he considers Pipkins one of the team’s five best offensive linemen, which is important when looking at how this competition could play out.
That doesn’t necessarily mean Pipkins will win the job, though.
Awosika has been involved in this competition for weeks and could provide the Chargers with more stability at a position that has been difficult to settle. With Rashawn Slater returning to the lineup and Joe Alt anchoring the other side, the Chargers don’t necessarily need a superstar at left guard. They need someone who can consistently do his job and keep Justin Herbert clean.
That might be Awosika.
The biggest thing working in his favor is familiarity. He has been preparing for this competition all offseason and has spent considerable time working at guard. With the season quickly approaching, having someone who already understands the position could be valuable.
At the same time, Pipkins’ versatility could be difficult to ignore. The Chargers have already shown that they value his ability to move around the offensive line.
So, is Awosika the answer?
He certainly has a legitimate chance to be. The fact that the Chargers continue rotating him with Pipkins suggests the team hasn’t made its final decision yet. But with Slaughter now at center, Awosika may have the clearest opportunity he’s had all offseason to take control of the position.
If he can separate himself over these final practices, the Chargers may finally have their answer at left guard.
