Most starting spots are secured on the Chargers’ depth chart, but there is one that has yet to be.
Cameron Dicker and Dustin Hopkins are battling for the starting kicker spot. So far, the needle hasn’t moved for either one, which is to be expected this early in training camp.
“Long way to go. There’s no pressure, there’s nobody here, so we don’t know much right now,” Staley said.
Dicker and Hopkins each had eight field goal attempts in the first week of camp. According to team reporter Eric Smith, Dicker made seven, while Hopkins made six. Both players had a long of 47 yards.
Dicker had one of the best rookie seasons by a kicker in NFL history, earning AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for December and January and two Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
Additionally, Dicker was an All-Rookie selection by the Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA) after making 21-of-22 field goals (95.5%).
On the other hand, Hopkins was limited to five games in 2022, which led to the emergence of Dicker, who closed out the season as the team’s kicker.
Before his injury, Hopkins had hit nine of his ten field-goal attempts and made all 12 extra-point tries.
It’s too early to gauge who has the leg up, and the competition will likely string into the final preseason game to determine who wins the job.
