Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey is headed into Week 5 with a familiar tag on the injury report, but this time the expectation is that he’ll be on the sidelines against the Denver Broncos.
McConkey was listed as questionable for Sunday because of a foot injury, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that he is not expected to play. The second-year receiver had not practiced this week, which lined up with the concern surrounding his status.
His Week 5 outlook fits a season that has already been defined by injuries. McConkey has been dealing with both a rib issue and a foot injury through four weeks, and his workload has been limited even when he’s been active. He was questionable in Week 4 as well and ended up playing just 33.8 percent of Los Angeles’ snaps.
With Quentin Johnston already ruled out, the Chargers are set to lean on Tre Harris as their top receiver option against Denver.
Through four games, McConkey has appeared in 54.4 percent of the Chargers’ offensive snaps. He has 12 catches on 17 targets for 183 yards and one touchdown. The former second-round pick was held without a catch in Week 4, and he has played fewer than 50 percent of Los Angeles’ offensive snaps in three of four games.
McConkey’s expected absence also changes the betting conversation around this Chargers offense. Earlier this week, SI Betting’s Ryan Gilbert pointed to the running game as the area to target with McConkey sidelined.
Omarion Hampton has been one of the few bright spots for the Chargers so far this season. He has accounted for three of the team’s seven offensive touchdowns, scoring in Weeks 1, 2, and 4.
Hampton also scored in his lone game against Denver last year, and he may be the most likely path for the Chargers to reach the end zone again in this matchup. The Broncos, meanwhile, just allowed a touchdown to Christian McCaffrey last week.
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