Justin Herbert got a much-needed lift from his offense against the Broncos, but the Chargers still took another hit when Tre Harris went down with a hamstring injury.
Harris was listed as questionable to return, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, after getting hurt on a clean seal block that helped spring running back Omarion Hampton for a big lane. Hampton, oversized neck roll and all, burst through the hole as Harris finished the play and then left the game.
Before exiting in Week 5, Harris had already made his presence felt with two catches for 16 yards. He entered the matchup as one of the Chargers’ breakout candidates this season alongside RJ Mickens, and he had been living up to that billing. The injury interrupted the momentum he had started building with Hampton, Herbert and the rest of the Los Angeles attack.
What made Harris’ exit sting even more was the fact that he came in as the team’s leading receiver, ahead of Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnson. Both of those players have spent more time in Herbert’s offense, but Harris had climbed to the top of the Chargers’ receiving chart anyway.
Tre Harris Injured His Hamstring On This Play And Is Questionable To Return.
— SM Highlights (@SMHighlights1) October 11, 2026
That’s Not Good. 😬 pic.twitter.com/25DvxuNlSE
Los Angeles did show some life against Sean Payton’s Broncos, with Herbert, Harbaugh and the offense playing better than they had in recent weeks. The Chargers were up 17-10 early in the fourth quarter, and the defense helped protect that one-touchdown edge.
Still, Harris’ injury cast a shadow over the afternoon for a Chargers team trying to dig out of an 0-4 start and find its first win in five tries. For one of the roster’s most promising young players, it was another frustrating turn in a season full of them for Harbaugh’s injury-hit group.
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 🡒]