After a dominant first half against the Atlanta Falcons, LA Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey suffered a knee injury that left him questionable in the second half. For an offense that is already without its starting running back, losing McConkey would be detrimental for the Chargers.
McConkey and Jim Harbaugh opened the door for fans to be concerned following the win on Sunday. While the duo did not outright insinuate panic, the lack of context opened the door for fans to imagine the worst-case scenario.
Harbaugh spoke to the media on Monday and while the head coach did not give an outright answer about McConkey's status, he did reveal a lot with his comments. The Chargers head coach used a phrase he has used several times this year, which does not bode well for McConkey's chances of playing next week.
Jim Harbaugh said that Ladd McConkey (knee) is “working through a couple things” and that the team will evaluate where he’s at as the week progresses.
— Kris Rhim (@krisrhim1) December 2, 2024
When asked about the possibility of McConkey practicing this week Harbaugh said, “We’ll see.”
Jim Harbaugh's comments hint at Ladd McConkey not playing for Chargers vs. the Chiefs
Nothing is concrete and and as Harbaugh alludes to, McConkey's status could change as the week progresses. If the standout rookie gets to a place where his knee is comfortable then there absolutely is a chance he plays.
However, Harbaugh has used the phrase "working through" several times this season and it typically is not good news. Both Joey Bosa and J.K. Dobbins were "working through something" before missing time.
The one silver lining with McConkey is that Harbaugh did not outright say he will miss time. With Dobbins, the head coach was clear right away that he would miss time. The same cannot be said about McConkey.
This does not improve McConkey's chances of playing on Sunday but it at least keeps the door open. At the very least, it should quell any concerns about this being a long-term injury for the wideout. If it was a multi-week injury then Harbaugh likely would have been blunt with his update as he was with Dobbins.
This is a bummer as the Chargers prepare for the Kansas City Chiefs but it might be for the best. The team has to keep the bigger picture in mind and it does not make sense to rush McConkey into a game the Chargers technically can afford to lose.
Los Angeles needs McConkey at full strength for a playoff run. If that means he has to sit out a Week 14 game, even if it is against a division rival, then so be it.