5 Chargers Playing Their Last Game With the Team on Sunday

On the verge of entering a new era and facing a dire cap situation for 2024, there's sure to be plenty of changes coming to the Los Angeles Chargers' roster this offseason. LA still has one game left on this disappointing campaign, however, which will act as a send-off for whichever players don't return.

There could be a number of contributors who depart this spring, though a few stick out as the most likely. With that in mind, here are the Chargers possibly playing their last game for the franchise in Week 18.

Chargers Most Likely Gone After Week 18

1. Austin Ekeler

Austin Ekeler's exit from Los Angeles has been in the making ever since his trade request last offseason. The two sides were able to work out their differences and reunite for the 2023 campaign, but the results haven't been what either expected.

After racking up over 1,500 yards from scrimmage in three of the past four years, Ekeler sits at only 1,015 heading into Week 18. While that's still solid, it's not up to the standard he previously set, which earned him a nice pay day.

Ekeler has admitted he's going to be "real selective" on where he plays in 2024 due to the struggles he endured with the Chargers this season. Considering he was already content with leaving the team last summer, it'd be no surprise if he finally lands somewhere new as a free agent.

LA doesn't have any real incentive to retain Ekeler, either. He's going to want a handsome salary based on his past production, but the team wasn't even comfortable paying a ton for an extension previously, and that was before his 2023 drop-off.

Given the franchise's salary cap constraints as well, shelling out decent money for a potentially declining veteran RB doesn't make any sense. They could part with Ekeler and find a cheaper replacement who very well could outpace his numbers from this season.