The Chargers’ bid for their first win of the 2026 season is headed into Sunday’s meeting with the Broncos short-handed, and not just in one spot. Los Angeles ruled out seven players Friday, with the injury report hitting the roster on both sides of the ball.
The biggest losses are Quentin Johnston, Joe Alt and Derwin James, all of whom will miss the Week 5 game. The Chargers also won’t have Kayode Awosika, Donte Jackson, Trevor Penning or Brenen Thompson.
There’s still uncertainty around a few more names. Trey Lance is doubtful, while Ladd McConkey is one of five players listed as questionable. If McConkey can’t go, Tre’ Harris would be the only active Chargers wide receiver who has more than one catch this season.
Johnston’s slow start has been a notable storyline already. He has not scored a touchdown after finding the end zone eight times in each of the past two seasons, and he’s caught seven passes for 108 yards so far in 2026. He was limited in practice all week because of a chest issue.
Alt’s absence stings just as much up front. He did not practice this week after exiting the Week 4 loss to the Seattle Seahawks early with a neck injury. Justin Herbert will be without his Pro Bowl tackle, who missed 11 games last season because of ankle injuries.
The Chargers are also dealing with a thinning offensive line group. Rashawn Slater was placed on injured reserve Friday after ankle surgery. Awosika, the team’s starting left guard, is set to miss his third straight game with a fibula injury, and Penning is out with a concussion.
On defense, James’ absence is another major hit. A hamstring injury will keep the five-time Pro Bowl safety out for a second straight week after he opened the season with 21 tackles in three games.
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 🡒]