Injuries have plagued the LA Chargers' 2025 season and the situation is no different heading into Week 16 against the Dallas Cowboys. Los Angeles is still without its two star tackles, and on Sunday, Justin Herbert could be throwing to a depleted wide receiver room.
Both Tre' Harris and Quentin Johnston were limited participants in practice on Thursday. Returner Derius Davis, who plays a minimal role on offense anyway, did not practice. Both Johnston and Davis missed last Sunday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs, while Harris was banged up during the game itself.
Harris is the most likely of the bunch to suit up but even if the entire trio plays, it may come at a compromised level. As such, the Chargers may need to tap into the wide receiver room and give a real opportunity to someone who has deserved it all season: KeAndre Lambert-Smith.
Chargers may be forced to give KeAndre Lambert-Smith a real chance vs. Cowboys
Taken in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, Lambert-Smith wasted no time becoming a fan favorite in Los Angeles. KLS, as he has been dubbed by the fanbase, instantly stood out during training camp and followed it up with an impressive preseason that outproduced Harris.
As great as KLS was in the preseason, he's been the victim of a roster crunch all season. He has essentially served as the third-string X receiver on the roster behind Johnston and Harris, resulting in him being a healthy scratch most weeks this season.
Heading out of the preseason, fans were convinced it wouldn't take long for KLS to surpass Johnston on the depth chart. However, the Chargers rightfully wanted to give the 2023 first-round pick a chance to lose his job, which he didn't do early on with several strong performances. Those strong performances has since subsided for Johnston, increasing the fanbase's appetite for KLS.
Lambert-Smith got an opportunity last week against the Chiefs and made the most of it. He was already active because of Davis' injury and showed potential as a returner. Once Harris went down, Lambert-Smith was forced into the X receiver role and made the most of it with one of the best touchdown catches of the season for the Bolts.
It was only his second reception of the season and his first trip to the endzone, yet it felt familiar because this is what fans saw during training camp and the preseason.
Lambert-Smith's opportunity couldn't come at a better time, either. The Cowboys have one of the worst secondaries in the sport, which is made worse by Daron Bland likely needing foot surgery again. Dallas has been susceptible to the long ball all season and that is where Lambert-Smith thrives. This isn't just an opportunity; it could be a potential coming-out party.
Many Chargers fans would argue that Lambert-Smith should have already gotten these opportunities and that the Bolts should have been quicker in reducing Johnston's workload or taking Davis off return duties.
But that no longer matters. Lambert-Smith is finally getting his chance now, and if the preseason is any indication, he will become a name Cowboys fans won't forget.