Kolar not targeted on Week 1 loss

Johnston and TE Charlie Kolar (forearm) both remained limited today, though WR Brenen Thompson (quad) downgraded. He did not practice, nor did Ladd McConkey (foot). Tre’ Harris could end up being the Chargers’ No. 1 wide receiver, but he would only be a FLEX against the Broncos.

In addition to Johnston, TE Charlie Kolar (forearm) and WR Brenen Thompson (quad) were also limited. Johnston has played in every game this season, but pops up on the practice report with a chest issue on Wednesday. He is not yet in danger of missing Week 5, barring setbacks later in the week. Neither Thompson nor Kolar have played since Week 2 but both have a chance to return this week against the Broncos. With Ladd McConkey (foot) not practicing, Johnston may have fantasy value as the Chargers’ No. 1 wideout this week.

He did rejoin practice today, making it plausible he’ll be up for the Chargers’ Week 5 game against the Broncos. Second-year receiving TE Oronde Gadsden was unable to seize the moment with Kolar and TE David Njoku (knee) sidelined last week, catching 0-of-3 targets. The once-promising youngster must do something on Sunday if he wishes to remain re-draft-relevant in 12-team formats.

Kolar’s surgery earlier this week reportedly changed his prognosis. Kolar was expected to land on short-term injured reserve and miss at least four games. Apparently, the team expects him back sooner than that. Backup TE Oronde Gadsden is still set to start, given Kolar and TE David Njoku’s (knee) injuries, but Gadsden’s audition window has evidently shrunk. He remains a worthwhile add and can be started by TE-needy fantasy managers in what should be a productive game environment against the Bills this week.

The Chargers will welcome Kolar back in a month barring complications. He was already placed on IR yesterday, but this timetable update shows that he should be ready to return in late October.

We don’t yet know when Kolar could return, but he will have to miss at least the next four games now that he’s on injured reserve. Kolar was seeing a decent workload during the first two weeks of the season, as his 72 snaps led all Chargers tight ends, while his 24 routes run were only one fewer than David Njoku’s 25. With Njoku (fibula) also on injured reserve, Oronde Gadsden could be in line for a significant workload over the next several weeks.

Jim Harbaugh did not have an update on Kolar after the game. Kolar left Week 2 early with a forearm injury and did not return. David Njoku had already exited the game with a knee injury. Assuming both players are out for a while, Oronde Gadsden now finds himself in a position to play an every-down role for the Chargers.

Njoku logged a pass route on 19 of the team’s 31 drop backs and was third on the Chargers in targets. Oronde Gadsden, meanwhile, ran a grand total of seven routes and caught both of his targets for 32 yards. Charlie Kolar, listed as the team’s No. 1 tight end in August, was not targeted on 13 routes against Arizona. Njoku should have some deep league value as the team’s TE1 in Week 2 against the Raiders.

Way back in late May, the Athletic’s Daniel Popper suggested Kolar, who signed a three-year, $24.3 million contract with the Bolts this spring, would enter the season as LA’s top tight end “because of his complete skill set.” Week 1 usage will tell us a lot about how offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel will use his tight ends, but for now it seems Kolar will lead the group in Week 1 against the Cardinals. David Njoku and Oronde Gadsden II, however, could see more pass game involvement depending on how many routes they run in a given week, and whether the Chargers go run-heavy against an opponent. None of the Chargers’ tight ends are particularly appealing fantasy plays for Week 1.

Kolar earned QB Justin Herbert’s first target of the night on a short out route to the left. Kolar secured the pass but stumbled and was brought down just shy of the first-down marker. PFF’s Nathan Jahnke notes that Kolar shared the field with TE David Njoku on two of the first three plays, but Kolar remained on the field for the Chargers’ first 11 personnel package. Kolar looks like the Chargers’ No. 1 tight end. He was a talented prospect but has contributed sparingly as a receiver in the NFL to this point, making him a coin-toss TE2 for fantasy.