On Wednesday, NFL insider Ian Rapoport cast some doubt on Ladd McConkey’s chances of playing this week with knee and shoulder sprains. Since then, it seems like the chances of McConkey playing have at least increased a bit. The Chargers’ stud rookie receiver was able to participate in all three days of practice this week, even with the limited designation.
However, it doesn’t seem that we’re closer to a real resolution in the early hours of Sunday morning. Rapoport tweeted out his usual league injury updates on Sunday morning and provided an update on McConkey’s status for Sunday Night Football.
The Chargers’ receiver is apparently a “true game-time decision”, per Rapoport. He wrote that the team hopes to give him up to 90 minutes prior to kickoff before making a decision. That’s about the time in which the Chargers are required by the league to submit their game day inactives list.
Other players listed as Questionable for SNF include LB Junior Colson and S Tony Jefferson. The Chargers activated Colson from IR yesterday while downgrading LB Denzel Perryman from Doubtful to Out. As for Jefferson, he did not practice on Thursday or Friday with a hamstring injury. Los Angeles activated S Kendall Williamson from the practice squad if Jefferson can’t go.
Earlier in the week, Chargers HC Jim Harbaugh said that McConkey stayed in against the Falcons until he physically couldn’t continue in the second half. How much better he feels a week later is a pressing question as the Chargers look to stop the Chiefs from clinching the AFC West.
McConkey accounted for 78% of the teams’ receiving yards last week in Atlanta. With the rookie receiver likely to be far from 100%, someone else will need to step up for the Chargers’ offense even if McConkey does play. It’s been a quiet past few weeks for both Josh Palmer and Quentin Johnston. The two primary outside WRs for the Chargers have combined for just 61 yards in the team’s last two games.
Time will tell as to whether McConkey is able to go for the Chargers in their highly anticipated Chiefs rematch on SNF.