Antonio Gates was ninth on the Chargers in catches the preseason he broke into the NFL back in 2003 — still a power forward in cleats trying to find his way between the white lines that summer, when Cleo Lemon was the primary exhibition-game passer for the then–San Diego–based team.
Gates came to the Chargers as an undrafted free agent, and the hardware in his trophy case was mostly a reflection of his college hoops career at Kent State.
He showed up and very quickly became a name quarterbacks Drew Brees and Doug Flutie got to know.
Gates will be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame this weekend as a living testament to why the preseason opener featuring the Chargers and Detroit Lions genuinely matters to a large percentage of the roster. You might not know the names or faces when they take the field on Thursday, but there’s likely a player on the field in Canton who will soon prove to be far more dog than underdog.
There’s a new tight end in the picture for the Chargers making waves in training camp — Oronde Gadsden II — capable of being the player fans are talking about Friday morning. A fifth-round pick and the son of former Dolphins wide receiver Oronde Gadsden, Gadsden II was a wide receiver at Syracuse and has the combination of size and ball skills to thrive in the Jim Harbaugh, tight end–friendly offense.
Here are four other players to watch as the NFL returns Thursday night:
Lions QB Hendon Hooker
Hooker is 27, and only the Lions know for sure where he is in his development toward becoming a pro quarterback. Hooker entered the NFL while recovering from a season-ending knee injury suffered at Tennessee, and Jared Goff has been putting up MVP-type numbers ever since. If he goes deep, watch for massive rookie Isaac TeSlaa to go make a play for Hooker.
Chargers CB Nikko Reed
Undrafted after playing college ball at Colorado and Oregon — two teams with polished receivers running a refined route tree — Reed is an early favorite of defensive coordinator Jesse Minter. A competitor who has been around the ball frequently.
Chargers RB Omario Hampton
A name most will know because of his pedigree as a first-round pick and All-ACC back at North Carolina, Hampton has all the potential to be the featured star on Thursday night. He’s likely to get enough work as a runner and outlet receiver for Trey Lance — yes, that Trey Lance — to put up some numbers, too.
Lions RB Jacob Saylors
We trust if you’re willing to sacrifice your Thursday evening to scout third-stringers in the Hall of Fame Game, you might’ve happened upon some UFL action, too. An East Tennessee State product who played for St. Louis the past two seasons, Saylors was a scintillating watch on the UFL stage because of his versatility. A weapon as a receiver, he compiled a total of 1,357 yards from scrimmage and 13 TDs in 18 UFL games.
