Football is back, and so is the pain of being an LA Chargers fan. The Chargers were embarrassed by an Arizona Cardinals team that was more than a touchdown underdog on the road in Week 1. A season full of promise is now one in which the Chargers are on their back foot.
Here is your mid-week Chargers update as the Bolts head into a crucially important Week 2 game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
- The two-minute warning
- Week 1 Chargers superlatives
- Must-see Chargers quotes
- Must-read Chargers stories from around the web
- This day in Chargers history
The two-minute warning
Your quick-hitting mid-week briefing on relevant Chargers news, injuries, and notes.
Chargers place KeAndre Lambert-Smith on IR, sign Gary Jennings Jr.
The Chargers officially placed KeAndre Lambert-Smith on IR on Tuesday with a hamstring injury. To take his place on the roster, the Chargers signed 2019 fourth-round pick, Gary Jennings.
Jennings was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks and has only played in one NFL game, with the Miami Dolphins. Jennings bounced around practice squads for years and has spent the last three years playing in the UFL. Jennings caught three passes for 77 yards and a touchdown in the 2026 UFL season and earned All-UFL honors on special teams.
Ladd McConkey's status is 'up in the air' for Week 2
Ladd McConkey suffered a scary upper-body injury on a ball over in the middle on Sunday. Adam Schefter confirmed that McConkey suffered a rib injury and reported that his status is "up in the air" for Week 2 against the Raiders.
Ian Rapoport followed up by saying McConkey is day-to-day and that he avoided a serious injury. Chargers fans likely won't know McConkey's status until game day on Sunday.
Chargers add Marquez Valdes-Scantling to the practice squad
Potentially complicating matters for McConkey, the Chargers signed veteran receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling to their practice squad on Tuesday, per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. MVS played for the San Francisco 49ers and Pittsburgh Steelers last season, hauling in 14 catches for 120 yards and a touchdown.
This could purely be precautionary for a Chargers team that might have to prepare for life without McConkey in Week 2. Either way, it could be a bad omen for McConkey's status in Week 2, even if the nature of the injury is truly day-to-day.
Week 1 Chargers superlatives
Award | Player |
|---|---|
MVP of the Week | Ladd McConkey |
Unsung Hero of the Week | Kayode Awosika |
Dud of the Week | Mike McDaniel |
Best PFF Grade | Ladd McConkey (90.7) |
Worst PFF Grade | Donte Jackson (32.6) |
For better or worse, the Chargers' offense ran through McConkey in Week 1. This makes his potential absence in Week 2 all the more concerning as the Chargers couldn't move the ball at all once McConkey was knocked out of the game.
While there are several players who disappointed, including Justin Herbert, Mike McDaniel gets the Dud of the Week. After an electric opening drive, the Chargers offense reverted back to old ways and looked like Greg Roman was still calling plays.
That wasn't because of Kayode Awosika, who was a pleasant surprise even if the Chargers decided to platoon him at left guard. Against all odds, Awosika has been the Chargers' best interior offensive lineman dating back to the preseason and that showed up with a strong showing in Week 1.
Of all players with 10 or more snaps, Donte Jackson put together the worst Pro Football Focus grade, which isn't surprising given the coverage lapses. Trey Pipkins had the worst offensive PFF grade while Cole Strange pieced together a 10.3 pass-blocking grade.
Must-see Chargers quotes
Jim Harbaugh on the Chargers' mistakes in Week 1:
"We made some preseason-type of mistakes, ya know? Now, in retrospect, we should have played our guys a little bit more in the preseason to give them those reps. Those game-like reps."
Harbaugh shows some regret about the lack of playing time the starters received in the preseason, but the Chargers head coach shouldn't beat himself up too much for it. Playing starters in the preseason is a double-edged sword: the team either comes out flat without reps in Week 1 or risks injury to key players in a game that doesn't matter.
Would more reps in the preseason really have changed the outcome in Week 1? Maybe. The Chargers didn't do the wrong thing by being cautious in August.
Jim Harbaugh on rotating left guard between Kayode Awosika and Trey Pipkins:
"We felt that was the best thing for us [...] Just how good those two players are. Have the rotation. That was our decision."
Harbaugh defended his decision to play a platoon at left guard between Kayode Awosika and Trey Pipkins. It's rather unconventional to treat the offensive line like a right-handed hitting corner outfielder, but alas, that is how Harbaugh approached left guard.
Harbaugh said the team would evaluate the rotation in the future. It should be an easy decision given how vastly different the two guards played.
Must-read Chargers stories from around the web
Gavino Borquez of Chargers Wire provides some much needed copium for a Chargers fanbase that needs it. There's always a way to look at the glass half-full, even after a horrendous loss to a bad football team.
- Fantasy Football: Gauging the panic meter on Chargers, Marvin Harrison Jr. and more heading into Week 2 (Yahoo Sports)
While it's mostly from a fantasy football perspective, Ray Garvin breaks down the Chargers offense and what level of worry should exist following Week 1's sloppy loss. If you're reading this, there's a good chance you drafted at least one Chargers player, so it's relevant.
Jason La Confora ranks all 32 teams after Week 1 and, well, Chargers fans probably won't be very happy with where he has the Bolts. But then again... it's probably deserved.
In case you missed it, I dove into my relationship with the 2006 Chargers on the 20-year anniversary of the start of that season. It was a really special article to put together to honor the relationship the Bolts have given me with my dad, and I really appreciate anyone who takes the time to read it.
This day in Chargers history
September 16, 2018: Chargers wallop Josh Allen in his first-career start
After coming off the bench in Week 1, Josh Allen started the first game of his career at home against the Chargers in Week 2 of the 2018 season. It did not go well for Allen and the Bills as the Chargers walked into Orchard Park and beat the brakes off Buffalo.
The Chargers jumped out to a 28-3 lead in the first half behind three rushing touchdowns from Melvin Gordon. Los Angeles then coasted to a 31-20 victory that looked way closer in the end than the game actually was.
Allen looked nothing like the eventual NFL MVP he would become. He completed 18 of 33 passes for 245 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. He was sacked five times. Watch the game highlights here.
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