SEPTEMBER 20, 1:39pm: McConkey is active for Sunday’s game, Schefter relays.
9:43am: The Ringer’s Tom Pelissero says McConkey has made “rapid progress” and plans to play in Week 2. If he does suit up, he will be wearing a flak jacket, per Schefter.
SEPTEMBER 14: It sounds like Ladd McConkey avoided a serious injury during yesterday’s season-opening loss. The Chargers WR is dealing with a rib injury and has been deemed day-to-day, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The wideout’s availability for Week 2 is still unclear, however. Schefter notes that the Chargers want to see how McConkey feels throughout the week before determining his status for next Sunday’s matchup with the Raiders.
McConkey suffered the injury during the third quarter of yesterday’s game against the Cardinals. After taking a hard hit from linebacker Mack Wilson, the wideout went down to the turf before exiting to the locker room. He didn’t return to the contest. Up to that point of the game, McConkey hauled in five receptions for 82 yards and a touchdown.
The 2024 second-round pick immediately emerged as an offensive threat, finishing with 82 catches for 1,149 yards and seven touchdowns as a rookie. His counting stats took a step back in 2025, when he finished with 66 receptions for 789 yards and six touchdowns.
Quentin Johnston and Tre Harris already saw significant roles before McConkey exited yesterday’s game. If the leading WR is forced to miss any time, that would open opportunities for the likes of Derius Davis, Brenen Thompson, and Keandre Lambert-Smith.
