NFL insider Ian Rapoport added some clarity around Ladd McConkey’s injury situation following the LA Chargers' victory over the Atlanta Falcons. McConkey did not return to the game during the fourth quarter after suffering a knee injury.
On his Wednesday hit for Good Morning Football, Rapoport said that the rookie receiver’s status was “up in the air” for Sunday’s game vs. Kansas City. Per his reporting, McConkey is dealing with both an AC joint sprain and a knee sprain. The shoulder issue was described as “ongoing” for McConkey. He was seen grabbing at his shoulder a few times during the game against Atlanta.
The knee sprain seems to be a newer development from Sunday relative to the shoulder lingering for the last couple of games. The knee injury is what the team officially listed when he did not return to last Sunday’s game.
Rapoport finished his segment by saying that both injuries leave him “in doubt” for SNF, but that neither injury is “major”.
Ladd McConkey's status is "in doubt" for Chargers-Chiefs in Week 14
On Monday, Jim Harbaugh said that McConkey played the second half in a “physically limited” capacity with said injuries. “Physically. He went until he couldn’t go anymore,” Harbaugh explained. “That’s what caused the dip in productivity.”
Against the Falcons, McConkey had one of the best production outputs of his young career in spite of the injuries. He had nine receptions for 117 yards on the day. 105 of those yards came in the first half prior to some of the physical issues with his injuries arising later in the game.
The rest of the Chargers’ pass-catching options totaled just 33 yards combined. McConkey had more receptions by himself than the rest of the offense put together. Whether the Chargers’ rookie receiver goes or not, LA’s offense simply has to get contributions from elsewhere.
Per The Athletic’s Daniel Popper, the Chargers have produced 0.55 EPA per play when targeting McConkey in the passing game. When they’ve targeted anyone else, they produced just 0.08 EPA per pass attempt. In essence, the Chargers are one of the best offenses in the league when spamming McConkey with targets-and they are one of the worst when they aren’t.
Quentin Johnston, Josh Palmer, and Jalen Reagor are a few of the receivers who will have to produce more in McConkey’s potential absence. D.J. Chark played just two snaps vs. Atlanta but could be in line for more of a role on Sunday if McConkey is out.
The Chargers will look to stop the Chiefs from clinching the AFC West on Sunday Night Football this week, with or without the help of their stud rookie receiver.