On Wednesday, the Chargers officially opened the 21-day return windows for TE David Njoku and LB Denzel Perryman. There seemed to be at least a chance that both could return this weekend. The Chargers look to avoid 0-8 as they take on the Texans. However, both potential IR returns for Los Angeles will likely have to wait another week.
In final Week 9 Chargers injury report, both Njoku and Perryman are listed as doubtful for this Sunday vs. the Texans. Njoku has sat since Week 2 after leaving the Raiders loss with a fibula injury. Perryman’s previously undisclosed injury was given the designation of pectoral. Joining Njoku and Perryman in the doubtful category are LG Kayode Awosika (fibula) and WR Brenen Thompson (quad/hamstring).
The Chargers didn't get quite as much help back as they thought they might heading into Week 9.
game status for week 9 vs HOU
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) November 6, 2026
DOUBTFUL — Kayode Awosika, David Njoku, Denzel Perryman, Brenen Thompson
OUT — Deane Leonard, Kendall Williamson
Like Njoku, Awosika has also been out since Week 2 with a fibula injury. A return for the veteran guard along a battered offensive line has been needed for a while. But the Chargers will have to wait at least one more week to get him back.
The Brenen Thompson injury saga continues. At one point, it looked like he was on the brink of returning from his quad injury. Then, he reaggravated it following the teams' BYE week. He seems no closer to returning now.
CB Deane Leonard will remain in concussion protocol. Special teams contributor S Kendall Williamson will miss this game with a calf injury-he was a DNP in practice all week.
In positive news, the Chargers do get corner help with both CB Donte Jackson and CB Rodney Shelley coming off of the injury report. Especially with no Derwin James for the foreseeable future, the Chargers will need all the help they can get in the secondary.
All in all, the injury news could be worse. But the Chargers have waited nearly two months now for the returns of Awosika and Njoku. It would really help their offense if either was close to returning. The Chargers have struggled mightily at LG and with their tight end depth since both players were originally injured.
The Chargers have at least established a baseline of health on offense now with Joe Alt, Ladd McConkey, and Tre' Harris back as of last week. But their offense still feels short of the players mentioned above. That doesn't include OT Rashawn Slater (ankle), who remains on IR.
The Chargers are healthier than they were coming out of the BYE week, but Week 9's practice report didn't provide more positive momentum on offense than they already had. However, the returns of Shelley and Jackson are at least good news for the secondary.
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