The Chargers are heading into Week 3 with the kind of injury report that can change a game plan in a hurry. After dropping their second straight game to start the 2026 season, Los Angeles now has to travel to Buffalo and face the Bills while trying to piece together an offense and defense that took more hits against the Raiders.
The one clear bright spot: Ladd McConkey looks ready to roll. After dealing with a cracked rib in Week 1 against the Cardinals, the wide receiver opened the week with a full practice. Barring a setback, McConkey should be available on Sunday, though the Chargers will probably keep asking him to protect those ribs after every catch.
There was also positive news on tight end Charlie Kolar, even if it won’t help this week. Kolar had successful surgery on his forearm, and his return timeline will not include a stint on injured reserve. Jim Harbaugh has already ruled him out for Week 3, and the Chargers responded by signing Hayden Rucci off the Miami Dolphins practice squad for added depth while Kolar and Njoku are out.
The bigger problem is up front, where the offensive line is in rough shape. The Chargers’ top four offensive guards are all injured, and only right guard Cole Strange was able to practice in a limited capacity Wednesday.
Starting left guard Kayode Awosika was in a walking boot and, while he is not headed to IR, he is expected to miss time. Trey Pipkins has not practiced since the Cardinals game, and Branson Taylor cannot come off IR until Week 5.
The Chargers do have two rookie linemen who can play guard, but Logan Taylor is the most likely option to dress and be ready if needed as the third-string guard on both sides.
Left tackle Rashawn Slater also landed on the injury report for the first time this season after working back from a patellar tendon rupture during training camp last year. He was limited Wednesday, and rookie Travis Burke would be prepared to step in if Slater cannot go.
On the other side of the ball, the Chargers could get a boost from the return of Deane Leonard. The cornerback and special teams ace appears set to make his 2026 debut after missing the first two games with an abdominal injury. The player who filled that special teams role in his place, rookie cornerback Rodney Shelley, was limited Wednesday because of a hamstring injury.
Rookie wide receiver Brenen Thompson was also limited with a quad injury, and the Chargers moved quickly by signing Marquez Valdez-Scantling to the 53-man roster. He figures to absorb some of the deep-ball work Thompson or Derius Davis had been handling over the past few weeks.
The Chargers’ defensive line has been their steadiest group so far, and even with Dalvin Tomlinson and Tuli Tuipulotu dealing with a hamstring injury, that front will have plenty on its plate in Buffalo. The assignment is straightforward on paper and brutal in practice: slow down James Cook, bother Josh Allen, and hope the offense can survive long enough to keep up.
In Other News...
Chargers Get A Needed Break As Week 3 Offensive Questions Grow
The Chargers got a little bit of relief this week as their offense continues to sort itself out heading into Week 3. Tight end Charlie Kolar will not go on injured reserve after surgery, which at least keeps the door open for his return later in the season, even though he will miss the upcoming game. It is the kind of update that does not solve anything immediately, but it does matter for a team trying to keep its pass-catching depth intact while the bigger questions around the offense linger.
Jim Harbaugh also confirmed that the Chargers are bringing wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling up to the active roster from the practice squad, giving them another veteran option to work with right away. For a group looking for answers and a little more stability, the move adds some insulation in the short term, even if the larger issue is still how quickly this offense can find its footing. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Defense Is Already Making A Veteran's Role A Flashpoint
The Chargers rough start has put every part of the roster under a microscope, and the defense is no exception. After two losses to open the 2026 season, frustration around the building and among fans has only grown, with the coaching staff already drawing fresh scrutiny. Within that tension, the cornerback rotation has become one of the clearest signs that no role is guaranteed anymore.
Chris OLearys decision to bench Donte Jackson in Week 2 underscored how quickly things can shift for a veteran who was a strong part of last seasons defense. Jacksons snaps have already been trimmed as the Chargers try to sort out their rotation, and OLeary has made the standard plain: playing time goes to the best performers. For a team still searching for its footing, that makes Jacksons place in the mix one of the more interesting questions on the defense right now. [Read more 🡒]
Justin Herbert Pushes Back As Chargers Leadership Debate Heats Up
Justin Herbert took questions at his midweek press conference ahead of Week 3 with the Chargers already trying to steady a rough start. After two home losses to open the 2026 season, the conversation around the team has shifted quickly from results to accountability, and Herbert made it clear he does not buy the idea that he has been quiet when it comes to leadership.
Herbert said the focus has to be on moving forward and cleaning up the mistakes that have piled up early. With a demanding schedule still ahead, the Chargers do not have much room for drift, and the scrutiny around their quarterbacks voice is only going to grow if the losing continues. [Read more 🡒]