The Chargers head into Week 5 at 0-4, and the path to anything resembling a turnaround starts with beating the Broncos. It’s a division game, it’s a battle of backups, and both sides are dealing with major injury issues. Los Angeles has more bodies missing, which means the game plan has to be sharpened and simplified fast.
For the Chargers, the biggest question is how they move the ball without much help at receiver. Quentin Johnston and Brenen Thompson are out, and Ladd McConkey is likely to miss the game after not practicing all week.
That leaves the run game as the most realistic way for Los Angeles to create offense. The problem is that Denver knows that too.
The Broncos’ linebackers are built to attack downhill. Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad have combined for 23 defensive stops, but they’ve also missed a combined ten tackles this season. That gives the Chargers a clear opening: their backs have to force missed tackles, stay on schedule, and make Denver’s linebackers respect the run enough to open up playaction.
Protection is another major concern. Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt are both out at tackle, which forces Los Angeles to reshuffle again.
If Branson Taylor is activated from injured reserve, he’s expected to step into one of those spots with rookie Travis Burke taking the other. If Taylor isn’t activated, rookie Logan Taylor likely slides outside.
Either way, that’s a lot of inexperience staring down edge rushers like Nik Bonitto.
The Chargers’ tackles will also have to help set the tone in the run game. Bonitto and Jonah Elliss, Denver’s top two edge rushers by snap count, both weigh under 250 pounds, which gives Los Angeles a chance to attack them on the ground. If Charlie Kolar returns, he should be part of that effort too, especially in the off-tackle game.
Defensively, the Chargers have at least had one steady area: the front. That unit will be tested by a Broncos offense that has sputtered enough for Sean Payton to take over play-calling duties from Davis Webb.
Bo Nix’s numbers tell the story. He’s averaging 2.93 seconds to throw, which ranks near the bottom of the league, and his average depth of target is second-lowest in the NFL, ahead of only the three Atlanta Falcons quarterbacks.
If Nix keeps holding the ball without pushing it downfield, the Chargers’ pass rush should have chances to make a difference. But that only matters if they first slow Denver’s run game and force more obvious passing downs. That includes containing JK Dobbins, who is sitting at a career-low 3.5 yards per carry and a career-low mark in yards after contact per attempt.
Denver will also be without Pat Bryant, who was placed on injured reserve this week, which adds another layer to a passing game already searching for rhythm. For Los Angeles, the formula is pretty clear: hold up at the line, run the ball well enough to survive the injury losses, and make Denver’s offense work for everything.
In Other News...
Chargers Coaches Are Sending A Clear Message During This 0-4 Start
A rough start has the Chargers searching for answers, and the messaging from the coaching staff has been notably steady even as the losses pile up. Jim Harbaugh has continued to back the offensive line, pointing to the groups confident demeanor despite the injuries, while the broader tone around the building has been one of accountability rather than panic as the offense tries to find some traction.
Mike McDaniel has also acknowledged the frustration outside the facility, and its hard to miss how quickly fan patience is thinning after the teams 0-4 start. The results have been ugly enough to invite criticism from every direction, but the staff is still projecting a front-facing sense that the work has to continue, which leaves the Chargers in the uncomfortable spot of trying to reset urgency without changing the message too much. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Offensive Coordinator Suddenly Under Fire As Herbert Keeps Sliding
The Chargers offense is already drawing scrutiny, and it is easy to see why. In his latest assessment for Bleacher Report, NFL analyst Kristopher Knox pointed to a unit that has yet to find a win and has lingered near the bottom of the league in both yards and scoring under first-year offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel. For a team that was supposed to lean on Justin Herbert to keep it competitive, the early results have been hard to ignore.
Herberts regression in McDaniels system has only sharpened the conversation around whether a change might eventually be needed. Knox went as far as identifying another member of the staff as a possible in-house answer if Jim Harbaugh decides to shake things up, which is the kind of speculation that tends to follow an offense when the production is this bleak. For now, the Chargers are left trying to stabilize an attack that has not matched the talent on the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Could Have A Justin Herbert Receiver Decision Brewing
The Chargers have been looking for ways to give Justin Herbert a little more help on the perimeter, and one name that has surfaced is Jerry Jeudy. NFL insider Adam Schefter reported that the Browns wideout could be available at the trade deadline, which has naturally put receiver-needy teams on alert as Cleveland leans on a group of younger pass catchers who have started to emerge.
Jeudys appeal is easy to understand for a Los Angeles offense that could use another proven option, but the fit comes with some questions. His production has dipped since a strong 2024 season, and any team weighing a move now has to decide whether his talent is enough to bet on the rest of this year and beyond. For the Chargers, its the kind of receiver decision that could shape the rest of their offensive push. [Read more 🡒]