The Los Angeles Chargers are absolutely reeling right now, heading into their Sunday matchup against the Denver Broncos completely winless on the season. They’re a team decimated by injuries, and honestly, they’ve got major issues on both offense and defense that are just killing them. This isn’t the Chargers squad we saw last year, not by a long shot.
The Charger Calamity: Injuries and Offseason Misses
Remember when these guys finished their 2025 season with an 11-6 record, good for second place in the AFC West? That feels like a lifetime ago. They lost to the New England Patriots in the AFC Wildcard Round, sure, but they were a competitive team. Fast forward to this season, and it’s a completely different story. Their offseason additions were supposed to bolster the roster, but injuries have absolutely ravaged them. Tyler Biadasz, a huge pickup for the offensive line’s pivot, suffered a knee injury in the offseason and is out for the entire year. Then they brought in two tight ends, David Njoku and Charlie Kolar. Njoku’s season is already done after a broken leg, and Kolar fractured his forearm, making him questionable to even play against Denver. Oof.
On the defensive side, they did manage to re-up key guys like edge rusher Khalil Mack, safety Tony Jefferson, and versatile interior defensive lineman Teair Tart. But they also watched edge rusher Odafe Oweh walk, signing a monster 4-year, $96 million deal with the Washington Commanders. In the draft, they grabbed Miami standout Akheem Mesidor in the first round to boost the pass rush, and Florida center Jake Slaughter in the second to help the O-line. Fourth-round pick Genesis Smith, a versatile defensive back, is a bright spot with two interceptions already and has earned half their defensive snaps. But man, those injuries to the vets? Brutal.
Herbert’s Hurdle: A Shocking Start to the Season
And then there’s Justin Herbert. The dude is their X-factor, no question, and we’ve seen him tear up the Broncos before. But holy smokes, his 2026 season has been a rough one. This seventh-year signal-caller is posting career lows across the board. His completion percentage is sitting under 60-percent, which is just wild for him. Plus, he’s been sacked a staggering 12 times! Even worse, he’s thrown more interceptions, with 6, than touchdowns, with only 4. You can’t put all the blame on Herbert, though. His offensive line is tremendously banged up, and that lack of quality protection upfront is absolutely a huge reason why the Chargers are struggling to move the ball.
This Sunday, the winless Chargers roll into Denver. The Broncos, at 2-2, are looking to rebound after their Week 4 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. What’s crazy is that Denver’s defense is also dealing with some major blows, as Patrick Surtain II is out for the matchup, and there’s a good chance Riley Moss will be too. That means we’re probably gonna see a lot of Jahdae Barr stepping up. Even with all the Chargers’ issues, Denver cannot afford to let Herbert find a way to earn an upset victory. You know he’s capable of it, and this team is desperate for a W. This is a must-watch to see if Herbert can finally get them off the schneid.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Mile High Report.
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