The Los Angeles Chargers are well into training camp at this point, having opened camp before the rest of the league as the team is set to play in the preseason Hall of Fame Game on Thursday night.
The team has had a few padded practices, but none of those practices have featured Zion Johnson at center. The team declined Johnson's fifth-round option this offseason and the thought was moving him to center from his guard spot might give him a chance to prove he's part of the team's future.
But when the pads have been on, Bradley Bozeman has been in that role. With pads off, Johnson has played some center in training camp, but the team is going to need to see what he looks like when the action is closer to reality, with pads on.
The Chargers have perhaps the league's best set of offensive tackles in Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt, but the interior is questionable and needs to be stabilized. Finding out where to plug Johnson will be a huge key to this season, but if the plan is to try and make him the new starting center, the team needs to get working on that.
Whether or not that comes in the Hall of Fame Game against the Detroit Lions on Thursday remains to be seen, but all signs point to that not happening right now. The Chargers still play three other preseason games after that, but they will need to know how effective he can be in that role before the season kicks off.
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If Johnson is not moved to center and instead stays at his guard spot, there is a really good chance he will be playing his final season in Los Angeles. In addition to Johnson, Andre James is on the roster after being signed in free agency this offseason and will likely get some reps at center as well.
Bozeman wasn't tremendous as the team's starter last season and James seems like more of a temporary option. Johnson needs to win this job not only for himself, but for the progression of the offensive line as a whole. The Chargers need to find out if he can successfully do so as soon as possible.
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