Chargers rookie TE only bright spot in beatdown at hands of Colts

The Chargers may have found something in their rookie tight end.

Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

The Los Angeles Chargers were getting clobbered 30-10 by the Indianapolis Colts. There hadn't been much to cheer for as the Bolts are in front of their home crowd at SoFi Stadium, but there is one positive they can take away from this.

Rookie tight end Oronde Gadsden II has emerged as a serious receiving threat over the last two weeks. Once the free agent signing of Tyler Conklin ultimately failed afer the first few weeks, the Chargers turned to Gadsden for most of the tight end snaps.

Gadsden became the first Chargers tight end with 100 yards in a game since Hunter Henry in 2019.

Oronde Gadsden is the first Chargers TE with 100 receiving yards since 2019 (Hunter Henry: 100 Rec yds vs PIT).

Gadsden’s 105 receiving yds are the most by a Chargers TE since Antonio Gates in 2013 (136).
pic.twitter.com/NF5iR98lpm

— Kris Rhim (@krisrhim1) October 19, 2025

Gadsden then turned around and scored his first NFL touchdown:

rook gets his first nfl td

📺 | @nfloncbs pic.twitter.com/XMA5gdtDdI

— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) October 19, 2025

It's certainly an uphill climb from here, but at least the Chargers can use Gadsden as a positive takeaway from this one.

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