When the Chargers signed Max Starks in May, the instinct was to pencil him in as the starting left tackle.
In time, Starks could be San Diego’s starter on the left side. However, in the opening stages of training camp, King Dunlap has taken the majority of the first-team snaps protecting Philip Rivers’ blind side, Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune reported Monday.
However, Starks did get work at left tackle with the first-team offense on Monday when Dunlap exited with an injury, the Union-Tribune reported. (Dunlap’s injury isn’t known, but it’s believed to be minor, Gehlken reported.)
Chargers head coach Mike McCoy indicated Monday that the club will try various line combinations during the summer.
“We’re trying to find the best five guys together,” McCoy said, per the Union-Tribune. “We’re going to continue rolling the line throughout camp, even in the preseason we’ll mix them with changes here and there.”
Dunlap started 12 games at tackle for the Eagles a season ago, the majority on the left side. Given the Chargers’ tackle issues in 2012, a competition where Dunlap and Starks play well would be a positive development for San Diego, which has had to call on its depth at this position in recent years.