The Los Angeles Chargers are staring down a rough Week 3 matchup against the Buffalo Bills, and it got a whole lot tougher after ESPN senior NFL insider Adam Schefter reported tight ends David Njoku (fibula) and Charlie Kolar (forearm) are heading to Injured Reserve. This isn’t a minor bump; both guys are out for at least the next four games, leaving the Bolts with a massive hole to fill and only one active roster tight end to show for it. Yikes.
The TE Room is a Ghost Town
Seriously, who is even left? With Njoku and Kolar sidelined, the Chargers’ active roster lists only Oronde Gadsden II at tight end. Think about that for a second. This young gun, son of former Miami Dolphins receiver Oronde Gadsden, who played at Syracuse until 2024, is now in line for some serious featured snaps. Good for him, but what a way to get your shot, right? The team’s likely scrambling for roster moves to fix this, and you can bet Patrick Herbert, Justin’s brother from the practice squad, is getting a call for Week 3. This is a team that’s already looking for their first win of the season after that 26-14 loss to the Cardinals. Talk about an uphill climb!
More Than Just Tight Ends
It doesn’t stop there for Los Angeles either. Head coach Jim Harbaugh told the media that starting left guard Kayode Awosika and starting defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson are both going to “miss some time.” So, it’s not just pass catchers; they’ve got issues on the offensive line and defensive front too. And let’s not forget safety Derwin James Jr., who’s got a broken thumb and will be playing with a protective cast starting in Week 3. Wide receiver Ladd McConkey did get back on the field for their Week 2 game against the Raiders after missing time with a ribs injury, which is a small silver lining, but man, their depth chart is looking thin.
Bills Aren’t Perfect Either
Now, the Bills aren’t entirely healthy, but their issues feel way less critical than what the Chargers are facing. Buffalo’s keeping an eye on wide receiver DJ Moore this week after he picked up an AC joint sprain in Week 2. Plus, defensive tackle Ed Oliver is battling a hip injury. Those are tough hits, sure, but it’s not like they’re down to one active tight end. Josh Allen and Justin Herbert are supposed to put on a fireworks show this Sunday, but with half the Chargers’ offense potentially taped up or on IR, it feels like Herbert might be bringing a squirt gun to a flamethrower fight.
So, here we are: Week 3. The Chargers are desperately trying to get into the win column, and they’re doing it with a seriously depleted roster, especially at tight end. It’s an AFL matchup, a classic, but the stakes for Los Angeles couldn’t be higher. Can they pull off the upset with so many guys hurt, or will this be another tough loss on their record? Sunday is gonna tell us a lot about this Chargers squad and how they handle adversity.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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