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Charger Report

Chargers Injury Updates Have Torn 53-Man Roster in Half by Week 6

Over half of the Chargers' original 53-man roster is on injured reserve or this week's injury report. LA heads to Kansas City battered; see who may play.
Sep 27, 2026; Orchard Park, New York, USA;  Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey (15) looks on during warm ups prior to the game against the Buffalo Bills at New Highmark Stadium.  Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images
Sep 27, 2026; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey (15) looks on during warm ups prior to the game against the Buffalo Bills at New Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

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The Los Angeles Chargers are facing their long time division rivals the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead stadium this week for their final game before their bye week. Los Angeles is trying their best to field a competitive team in Week 6 but the football gods are working overtime to make that a more difficult task.

The Chargers start the week with more than 50 percent of their original 53-man roster either on injured reserve or this week's injury report. LA sent out a mostly rookie offensive line to battle the Denver Broncos in week five due to injuries. The rookies gave a positively surprising performance against Denver. Week six may be more of the same as original starting left guard Kayode Awosika is still unable to practice and second-year lineman Branson Taylor was activated off of injured reserve just before the Broncos game.

Los Angeles has injuries everywhere, even to rooms and position groups where depth was considered a strength. There are two massive hurdles the Chargers will have to overcome this week if they hope to hand Kansas City their first loss of the season and notch their first win.

Problem 1: Wide receivers

The Chargers' receiving room was nearly gone in week five with Ladd McConkey available only in emergencies, Quentin Johnston out, Tre' Harris hurt in the first half, Brenen Thompson out, and Keandre Lambert-Smith was still on injured reserve. The only remaining receivers were Derius Davis, who has been a non-factor in 2026, Marquez Valdez-Scantling and Theo Wease Jr., who was just recently signed to the active roster.

Tre' Harris did not practice and is likely out until after the bye. McConkey, Johnston, Thompson and Lambert-Smith are all listed as limited participants and they welcome a new name added to the injury report, Marquez Valdez-Scantling. This leaves Theo Wease Jr. and Derius Davis as the only fully healthy wide receivers on the roster. LA did sign familiar face Luke Grimm to the practice squad earlier in the week.

Who will be available and effective in week six is still a mystery. We have have to keep a sharp eye on this week's injury reports.

Problem 2: Defensive line

This is a new development. The Chargers defense has kept the Chargers alive the past three weeks and in large part due to the defensive front putting forth a dominant performance against opposing offenses.

Jamaree Caldwell, Justin Egboigbe and Dalvin Tomlinson all being limited to start the week is a concern. Those three being joined by Bud Dupree, Elijah Molden and Daiyan Henley makes the strength of the team now concerningly thin with Derwin James Jr and Donte Jackson not practicing yet.

The Chargers need rest in the worst way and Patrick Mahomes, Kenneth Walker and the Chiefs are standing in their way before they get to their bye. Will they do so with their first win of the season or staring down 0-6? Managing

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Thomas Martinez
THOMAS MARTINEZ

Thomas Martinez has covered the Chargers and the NFL draft since 2022. Born and raised as a Chargers fan, experienced the improbable Super Bowl run in the 94’ season as a child, survived Ryan Leaf, the Marlon McCree fumble and Nate Kaeding in the playoffs. He graduated from UC Riverside with a degree in Political Science and The University of Redlands with an MBA.