BrenenThompson

Oct 12

Four of the top five wide receivers on the depth chart didn't play, and the fifth couldn't finish the game.

Los Angeles started the season with Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston and Tre' Harris as its top receivers, with Brenen Thompson, KeAndre Lambert-Smith and Derius Davis as the primary backups. Lambert-Smith has spent the season on injured reserve. Johnston (chest) and Thompson (quadriceps) were inactive, while McConkey (foot) was active but didn't play. This left Harris and Davis as the top receivers, along with recent free-agent addition Marquez Valdes-Scantling and practice squad elevation Theo Wease Jr. Los Angeles started the game with Harris and Valdes-Scantling as its primary receivers, with Wease playing ahead of Davis in 11 personnel. The Chargers tried to establish the run game, so Harris ran just 13 routes on his 30 offensive snaps. He suffered a hamstring injury while blocking when the ball carrier ran into the back of his leg and was unable to return. After the injury, Wease became an every-down receiver, while Davis began playing in 11 personnel. This is a situation to avoid until some of the top receivers get healthier. Valdes-Scantling was an every-down receiver and led the wide receiver room in production, but he caught just two passes for 22 yards.

Sep 5

At a baseline, this leaves both Lambert-Smith and rookie receiver Brenen Thompson without a path to significant snaps in McDaniel's offense. The good news (for both players) is that McDaniel likes to make use of all of the weapons in his arsenal. … Thompson and Lambert-Smith will, at the very least, be used sporadically as downfield threats to help stretch the defense vertically. The problem for Lambert-Smith is that, right now, Thompson has a clearer path to claiming that role. … Thompson has the versatility to play out of the slot— not to mention his blazing speed that has evidently appealed to McDaniel since the pre-draft process.