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.
McConkey played a limited role over the first two weeks of the season because of a rib injury before finally returning to his normal workload in Week 3, when he played 88.4% of the offensive snaps. He appeared on the injury report this week with a foot injury, practicing in a limited capacity Wednesday, missing Thursday’s practice and returning on a limited basis Friday. He was listed as questionable but ultimately played. McConkey’s role looked normal over the first eight drives, as he played 24 of 28 snaps. Tre Harris notably played a little more than Quentin Johnston during that stretch, while Marquez Valdes-Scantling occasionally rotated in for Johnston in 11 personnel. It’s unclear whether McConkey suffered a new injury or aggravated the foot injury he entered the game with, but he was unable to finish. After McConkey left, Valdes-Scantling consistently joined Harris and Johnston in 11 personnel, with Valdes-Scantling and Harris splitting the slot snaps. Harris and Johnston were the more consistent options in two-receiver sets. In the past, Derius Davis would have been more likely to take on the additional work in 11 personnel, but Valdes-Scantling filled that role in this game. If McConkey’s injury is serious, Harris would be the Chargers receiver to target on the waiver wire. He led the team with three receptions for 60 yards in this game. Even if McConkey is healthy, Harris has a chance to overtake Johnston as the team’s second receiving option.
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