The Los Angeles Chargers are wasting no time searching for help after opening the 2026 NFL season 0-1, and the latest move is a workout with veteran receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
The timing makes sense. Los Angeles is dealing with a battered wide receiver room after Week 1, and the team is clearly exploring every possible route to stabilize the offense. Valdes-Scantling gives them a proven veteran with postseason mileage, deep speed, and a long track record of finding his way onto rosters.
Valdes-Scantling, known as “MVS,” entered the league as a fifth-round pick by the Green Bay Packers in the 2018 NFL Draft. Since then, he has bounced through the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, New Orleans Saints, Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers and Pittsburgh Steelers.
He also spent the 2026 preseason with the Dallas Cowboys before being released on Aug. 30.
Sources said the Chargers are working out veteran WR Marquez Valdez-Scantling. MVS, a two-time Super Bowl champion, was with Dallas for training camp and has 219 catches, 3,686 yards and 21 TDs in his career. pic.twitter.com/QmOsCoG1CB
At this point, Valdes-Scantling is still waiting for the next call, but his résumé keeps him in the conversation. There is no direct connection between him and the Chargers coaching staff, yet his combination of experience and vertical speed makes him an obvious fit to at least bring in for a look. He’s also approaching 32 in a couple of weeks, but that hasn’t stopped teams from circling before.
Last season, Valdes-Scantling split time with the 49ers and Steelers and finished with 14 catches for 120 yards and a touchdown. Over his career, he has 219 receptions for 3,686 yards, an average of 16.8 yards per catch, and 21 touchdowns.
The Chargers’ need at receiver became more urgent after a rough Week 1 injury report. Ladd McConkey took a significant hit to the ribs and was listed as day to day, while Derius Davis and KeAndre Lambert-Smith also landed on the injury list.
Chargers WR Ladd McConkey is day to day with a rib injury, per Jim Harbaugh.WR Derius Davis and S Elijah Molden are “day to day”WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith will miss “some time” pic.twitter.com/YSmhNB5RRo
Lambert-Smith was placed on injured reserve and replaced by Gary Jennings Jr., the former UFL receiver who impressed in limited action with Los Angeles. Even with that move made, the Chargers still need another body who can step in if Davis and McConkey are unavailable for Weeks 2 and beyond.
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