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Chargers

In other words: He’s not actually practicing. It’s generally good news that McConkey has been spotted near the team, but we’re going to need to see a major turnaround on Friday to do better than a questionable tag for the 2024 second-round pick.

McDaniel was asked why Gadsden only played eight snaps in Week 1. The Chargers’ offensive coordinator said he expected Gadsden to get more involved last week, but the game “didn’t play out” that way. McDaniel closed by saying he expects Gadsden “to be more involved outside of an unforeseen situation where the game and the parameters with which you’re playing change — and therein lies the problem. Gadsden is not a full-time player. Projecting his weekly usage will be challenging. He is currently not worth starting in 12-team leagues, though that could change if McDaniel decides to feature him.

Tart and DB Elijah Molden (hamstring) were listed as non-participants due to injuries for the Chargers’ defense Wednesday. Both are starters for the defense; Tart’s potential absence in the middle of the defensive line would especially open things up for Ashton Jeanty and the Raiders’ run game for Week 2.

Sitting out on a Wednesday is not the end of the world for established starters. However, this does push McConkey further into the questionable column. The Chargers signed WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling yesterday. Although Valdes-Scantling is unlikely to meaningfully contribute, the fact that the team felt they needed to bring in an extra wide receiver is slightly concerning. McConkey still has two days to get right. If he returns tomorrow, that would be great news.

Valdes-Scantling worked out with the Chargers earlier Tuesday and now signs with the team’s practice squad. The 31-year-old spent the offseason with the Cowboys and has been a journeyman since his first four seasons with the Packers, also spending time with the Chiefs, Bills, Saints, 49ers, and Steelers over his career. The Chargers add Valdes-Scantling as depth with Ladd McConkey dealing with a rib injury and KeAndre Lambert-Smith (hamstring) heading to injured reserve.

He was cut by the Cowboys at the end of training camp and has been looking for his next opportunity. Valdes-Scantling’s appearance here probably doesn’t bode overly well for Ladd McConkey’s status for Week 2, though obviously that’s just trying to read the tea leaves.

He’ll miss at least the next four games. Lambert-Smith played in two special teams snaps in the opener and the days of him and Trey Lance hooking up for deep passes at the Hall of Fame game feel like they happened five years ago instead of in 2025. The Chargers added Gary Jennings off the practice squad to fill the void.

Harbaugh also declined to say whether he expected McConkey to play in Week 2 against the Raiders, instead saying the team wants to see how he feels over the course of the week. The Chargers will release their first injury report of the week on Wednesday, but if McConkey can log a few limited practices before the weekend, he should have a shot to suit up on game day.

McConkey may miss a little time, but that will be determined in the coming days. The third-year receiver suffered a rib injury in Sunday’s Week 1 loss to the Cardinals and finished the day with 5-82-1 on seven targets. If he’s unable to play in Week 2 against the Raiders, Derius Davis could be in line to take over his role in the slot. Davis ran all nine of his routes from the slot on Sunday against the Cardinals.

Gadsden hardly saw the field against Arizona. He ran just seven pass routes while David Njoku logged 17 routes and caught all five of his targets. Gadsden is clearly an afterthought in the Chargers passing offense for now. He should remain on waiver wires ahead of the Bolts’ Week 2 game against the Raiders.