Injury Concerns Loom for Chargers Receivers Ahead of Week 7 Clash

Wide receivers Quentin Johnston and Ladd McConkey of the Los Angeles Chargers continue to feature on the injury report ahead of the team’s Week 7 encounter with the Arizona Cardinals. Ladd McConkey sustained a head injury in the previous game against the Denver Broncos but recovered sufficiently to return to the field. However, he is now suffering from a hip injury that limited his participation in Thursday’s practice session.

Quentin Johnston, the team’s first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, remains sidelined due to an ankle injury. McConkey’s current status appears promising for play against the Cardinals if unforeseen issues do not arise over the final two injury reports of the week. Johnston’s situation, however, remains uncertain.

During this season, McConkey has been targeted a team-high 32 times, reflecting a 28.8% target share, while Johnston follows with 22 targets. Despite having fewer targets, Johnston has managed to find the end zone three times, close on the heels of McConkey’s two touchdowns.

Should Quentin Johnston remain unavailable for the upcoming game, the Chargers are expected to rely heavily on other receivers such as Joshua Palmer and Simi Fehoko. Fehoko recently made a significant impact with a crucial catch in the team’s victory over the Broncos in Week 6.

The matchup against the Cardinals presents a favorable opportunity for Chargers’ quarterback Justin Herbert to capitalize on, given Arizona’s defensive weaknesses in both pass coverage and run defense. While Herbert’s attempts have varied widely in previous games, averaging between 18 and 34 passes, this upcoming game offers a promising scenario for McConkey to showcase his receiving capabilities.