The LA Chargers are back in primetime in Week 8, hosting the Chicago Bears on Sunday Night Football. Chicago fans are patiently waiting for this season to end so the team can be on the clock while the Chargers desperately need a win to avoid falling to 2-5.
If the Chargers lose to the Bears in Week 8 then the season is officially over. It is theoretically possible for the Bolts to overcome a 2-5 deficit and make the playoffs, but let's be real. Any 2-5 team that also lost to the Bears has no chance of being a playoff team.
It is safe to say that the Chargers need to show up and play their best game possible, regardless of the opponent. Unfortunately, in classic Chargers fashion, the team is dealing with some adversity that is going to make Justin Herbert's life even harder.
Justin Herbert may have to deal with disastrous Chargers weapons against Bears
Justin Herbert had to throw to a lot of sub-optimal targets during the 2022 season. That might be the case again in Week 8. In addition to Mike Williams being out for the year, Herbert could very well be without both Joshua Palmer and Gerald Everett.
Both players are listed as questionable for Sunday's game. Palmer and Everett both missed at least one practice during the week leading up to Week 8.
full #CHIvsLAC game status pic.twitter.com/js6Jo2oBdK
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) October 27, 2023
If Palmer and Everett do not play then Herbert will be without his WR2 and TE1, both of which have been very important facets of the offense since Williams went down. As great as Keenan Allen is, he has been a lot easier to game plan against without Williams on the field. As a result, Palmer and Everett have benefitted.
To make matters worse, speedster Jalen Guyton isn't ready to suit up. The Chargers did not active Guyton in time from the PUP list, making him ineligible to play against the Bears, per Daniel Popper of The Athletic.
If Palmer doesn't play then the Chargers receiving corps is going to consist of Allen, rookie Quentin Johnston who has less than 100 receiving yards on the season, and rookie fourth-round pick Derius Davis. The Chargers will have practice squad-quality players behind them.
At tight end, the Chargers would be looking at Donald Parham, who is fine but is not a TE1, and Tre' McKitty, who was literally a healthy scratch a week ago.
Herbert is going to need Allen to get open early and often against the Bears because if not, he could be in for a long night.