Jim Harbaugh isn’t closing the door on Mike McDaniel, but he also isn’t pretending the Chargers are finished looking for answers on offense.
Harbaugh said the team will examine “every stone” as it tries to get better, while still backing his offensive coordinator. “I feel like every stone, any part that we could look to better, that’s the way we responded,” Harbaugh said, via The Athletic.
“ We’re very confident in Mike and his talent, his work ethic and his ability. And continue to be.
”
In Kansas City, the Chiefs had a fuller practice Wednesday than they’ve had at times this season. Andy Reid said everyone on the active roster took part, including OT Jaylon Moore and WR Rashee Rice.
Reid also addressed the addition of kicker Justin Tucker to the practice squad, saying, “ He’s done his suspension. … I’ll leave it at that.
… We try to do our homework the best way we can. Make sure things are OK.
”
That move inevitably brought Harrison Butker into the conversation. Reid made clear the Chiefs still trust him, even if the recent stretch has been uneven.
“We love Harrison. He understands the business and how it works.
… He’s struggling a little bit. Butker will get most of the reps this week.
It’s fluid.” Reid added that Butker will probably be the kicker in Week 8.
Reid also said WR Cyrus Allen is still being brought along gradually. “We’re growing him as we go… Talented… He’s got a little more last week… He’ll get a little more this week.”
Patrick Mahomes, meanwhile, made the case for what Rashee Rice brings back to the offense. “He’s such a physical receiver.
He does such a great job in the zone concepts, getting himself open and being physical against man. Having him back will be big to help take some pressure off the other guys…”
Mahomes also commented on the report involving LT Josh Simmons, stressing that the team intends to handle internal matters internally. “ We have open communication here in general… We want to keep those conversations in the building. That’s something we’ll be better at in the future.”
In Other News...
Chargers Face A Bigger Deadline Decision Than Fans Expected
The Chargers head into the trade deadline in a familiar but uncomfortable spot, trying to balance a rough season against the temptation to reshuffle the roster. Injuries have piled up, the offense has sputtered under Mike McDaniel, and Justin Herberts play has regressed as the unit has struggled to find any rhythm. In that kind of season, every move gets bigger, and even the future feels like it is in play.
Los Angeles is also sitting on a striking long-term asset, one that could shape how aggressive the front office wants to be now versus later. The team holds the No. 1 pick in the 2027 draft, which gives it a rare chance to target major help at a premium position if it chooses to stay patient. For a roster still searching for stability, the wide receiver conversation is already looming larger than most expected. [Read more 🡒]
Ladd McConkey Has Become A Real Chargers Concern
Ladd McConkey entered this season with the kind of role the Chargers had been building toward, the receiver they hoped would settle in as Justin Herberts most reliable target. Instead, his 2025 and 2026 seasons have been marked by uneven production and a stop-and-start stretch that has kept him from fully taking hold of the passing game the way the team envisioned.
For a Chargers offense trying to sharpen its identity, McConkeys availability has become part of the equation as much as his play. He has already navigated a rib injury, a foot issue, and a concussion in 2026, leaving Los Angeles with a familiar question: whether the receiver who flashed top-target potential can finally string together the health and consistency needed to become the centerpiece the Chargers were counting on. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Face A Khalil Mack Decision That Could Define This Season
The Chargers slow start has pushed a familiar kind of front-office conversation to the forefront, and Khalil Mack sits right at the center of it. With the trade deadline nearing and the season already drifting in the wrong direction, Los Angeles has begun weighing whether to move one of its most proven defensive stars for future draft capital as part of a bigger reset.
Mack still has enough value to matter to a contender, which is why the phone has reportedly been ringing. A reunion with the Bears has been floated, New England has also been mentioned, and the Chargers now have to decide whether keeping an impact pass rusher in the building is worth more than what he could bring back if they choose to sell. [Read more 🡒]
