Ladd McConkey was a non-participant in the Chargers’ first practice of Week Two on Wednesday, working off to the side with trainers. This comes just two days after head coach Jim Harbaugh told reporters that McConkey’s rib injury would be monitored day-to-day, with no clear timeline for missed time. That’s a gut punch, especially after what we saw from the offense without him.
The Big Hit and Its Fallout
McConkey took a big hit over the middle in the third quarter of Sunday’s game against the Cardinals, suffering a rib injury that immediately knocked him out for the rest of the game. Now, him not practicing on Wednesday? That’s a major red flag for this early in the season. What’s even more concerning is how bad the offense looked after he left that Cardinals game. Seriously, it looked almost impossible for them to move the ball without him out there. If he can’t go this week, it’s a huge problem.
Who Steps Up, and Who Else Is Hurting?
If McConkey is sidelined for Week Two, the Chargers are gonna have to lean on Quentin Johnston, Tre’ Harris, and rookie Brenen Thompson to pick up the slack. They’ve already got issues in the receiver room, with KeAndre Lambert-Smith on IR and Derius Davis battling a calf injury. And it’s not just the receivers: Wednesday’s injury report was a laundry list. Safety Elijah Molden (hamstring), offensive guard/tackle Trey Pipkins (knee), and defensive tackle Teair Tart (ankle) all joined McConkey as DNPs. Dalvin Tomlinson (hamstring) and Deane Leonard (abdomen) were limited participants. On the bright side, edge rusher Akheem Mesidor (calf) and Derius Davis (calf) were both full participants.
So, the Chargers are looking at a tough Week Two matchup against LV with a banged-up roster, especially their pass-catchers. How they manage to move the ball without McConkey will be a huge test.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bolts from the Blue.
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