Chargers Training Camp is rapidly approaching.

The team will host 17 open practices as they welcome fans back to The Bolt in El Segundo. (Note: two of the practices will be held at University of San Diego.)

The Bolts are looking to build on an 11-win season and playoff berth in Year 2 of Head Coach Jim Harbaugh, as the competitiveness has gone up another level throughout the offseason.

Chargers.com will take a look at each position group and battles leading up to training camp. The linebackers are up next.

Who's on the roster?

Linebackers: Daiyan Henley, Denzel Perryman, Junior Colson, Troy Dye, Del'Shawn Phillips, Kana'i Mauga, Marlowe Wax

Outside linebackers: Khalil Mack, Tuli Tuipulotu, Bud Dupree, Kyle Kennard, Tre'Mon Morris-Brash, Caleb Murphy, Kylan Guidry, Garmon Randolph

Camp Outlook

Both linebacker groups thrived last season as Defensive Coordinator Jesse Minter led the charge for the NFL's best scoring defense.

Now, a big year lies ahead for the groups to build on last year's success — with almost the same core running it back.

Khalil Mack spearheads the group for his fourth season as a member of the Chargers after making his return just before free agency began in March.

The future Hall of Famer has been one of the most valuable members of the team on and off the field since arriving in Southern California.

And coming off a season where he had at least 6.0 sacks for the 10^th straight season, Mack is fired up to be able to run it back in Los Angeles and continues to chase his goal of Super Bowl glory.

"Why not here?" Mack said. "Got tremendous leadership here. You're about the players in the locker room, I was talking about that last year.

"Just knowing what you're stepping into, being very familiar with the guys that we have already here and knowing what Coach [Jim] Harbaugh is building and what Joe [Hortiz] is building," Mack added. "That was a no-brainer."

Getting Mack back in the fold was huge for a room that will likely lean more Tuipulotu, who's entering his third season.

Tuipulotu, who led the team with 8.5 sacks in 2024, is in line to see his workload take a jump on the opposite side of Mack.

"Tuli is a special player. I've been saying that ever since he stepped foot in the building three years ago," Mack said. "Just knowing who he is and knowing what he brings on a consistent basis, he's already ready for that.

"He's been a starter essentially for the past three years," Mack added. "I don't think it's going to be any different just knowing how he's approaching the game this year and how detailed he is in his technique and everything."

Fellow veteran Dupree will also likely play a significant role in the room, as he figures to be a major factor like he was a season ago when he notched 6.0 sacks.

With the three players at the top of the depth chart, the Bolts also have a lot of youth and players who will have an opportunity to make their mark during camp.

Kennard, who was voted the top defensive player in college football, leads that group and will have a chance to learn from one of the most experienced rooms in the league.

Morris-Brash and Murphy return after spending last season on the practice squad while Guidry and Randolph come in as undrafted free agents.

When it comes to the off-ball linebacker room, nearly the same room returns from a season ago.

As opposed to this time last year, however, there is lone player at the top that separated himself and enters this year as one of the newer leaders of the defense.

Henley had a breakout season in 2024 after winning the starting job in training camp and led the Bolts in tackles, displaying his athleticism in coverage and emerging as one of the rising stars at his position in the league.

As he continues to develop on the field he's also gotten praise for his work as a leader throughout the offseason, as the linebacker hopes to continue his improvement.

"I think the biggest thing about expectations like that is that they have to start within," Henley said. "It's not something that people should bestow upon you, you have to want that for yourself to go get it. That's always been my goal and aspirations, to be that type of player this league for years to come."

He later added: "It's a process, and I'm not ever trying to be stagnant. Last year was last year, it is what it is. I can improve. There's so much more for me out there."

Perryman and Dye also return to the room, a pair of veterans who stepped up at various points of the season and provided good play for the room alongside Henley. So does Colson, who's hoping to rebound following his up and down rookie season that was hampered by injuries.

Rounding out the room is Phillips, who has special teams prowess, undrafted free agent Wax and Mauga, who was signed in May.

Players to Watch: Tuli Tuipulotu & Junior Colson

We'll go with a pair of young players who have a big opportunity to take over big roles in the Chargers defense.

Tuipulotu has been no stranger to stepping in as a starter as the No. 3 guy on the depth chart since the moment he arrived with the team.

However, he is slated to take on a bigger role than he ever has in his third season with the way the position shakes out.

Tuipulotu will surely be leaned on a significant amount on the opposite side of Mack, something those around the team are excited to watch unfold.

"It's human nature when kind of know going into the previous year knowing you're third," Minter said. "Now you kind of know going into the year, 'This is my chance, one of the guys is gone now.' I think you just have a different level of confidence."

Minter later added: "He plays the way we want to play, he trains the way we want guys to train, he does everything that you can want. I think he's primed to have another year where, same thing, get a little bit better, keep improving and everything else will show."

As for Colson, he's had a much different experience heading into Year 2 than he had his rookie season.

The linebacker battled injuries throughout most of the offseason and season until the latter part of the year. This year however, those around the team have been impressed with his work on and off the field.

The early reviews are very positive on Colson, as he will have a better chance to show the strides he's made when the pads come on in camp.

"He's back in the place I know him to be," Harbaugh said about Colson. "Which is key performance indicators. All 5/5s, all A+'s across the board. He's on a good run, he's got to stay on that cutting edge, that place.

"But it's been ascending, arrow up," Harbaugh added. "Back to where he was physically on a consistent basis."

Key Question: Does Henley take another leap and establish himself among league's best?

Henley went from not playing much his rookie season to contending for accolades in his second season.

Now how much more can the linebacker ascend?

The linebacker improved as the season progressed and has seemingly taken strides even as a leader in his first offseason as the clear starter.

And another year ranking among the league's elite could vault Henley into those top linebacker conversations for everything he's able to do.

While Minter didn't want to place expectations on Henley's third season, he believes he has the ability to reach new heights this season as he continues to come into his own in the NFL.

"I just expect him to continue to get better," Minter said about Henley. "I don't really like putting stats or accolades on that, but I said this last year before he played a down, that his ceiling was really high. As athletic as he is, the way the game is now, it's a space game, it's a matchup game at times, he has every capability of being a linebacker at the level of some of the guys out there."

Minter later added: "I expect him to continue to ascend and keep improving. If he does that, if he improves on what he did, then it will certainly lead to all that other stuff. Just focus on the process of getting better and it will take care of itself."

Henley echoed Minter's sentiment and is striving to be the best he can be.

"I got goals and expectations for sure, but I'm going to keep them to myself because it's something I'm continuously saying, something I'm continuously working for," Henley said. "We'll leave it like that. Just going to get to it and see where I land."