RADIO
Charlie Kolar Will be Placed on Injured Reserve
Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said on Monday that tight end Charlie Kolar (forearm) will be placed on Injured Reserve after he suffered a forearm injury on Sunday in the Week 2 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, according to NFL Network's Taylor Bisciotti. The 27-year-old was spotted in the clubhouse wearing a sling on his left arm after Sunday's game, and he will now have to miss at least the next four games. Kolar drew some training camp buzz for his role in new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel's scheme before not being targeted in the Week 1 season-opening loss to the Arizona Cardinals. The former fourth-round selection by the Baltimore Ravens in 2022 from Iowa State caught all three of his targets for 21 yards on Sunday against the Raiders before getting injured. With fellow TE David Njoku (leg) also going on IR this week, Oronde Gadsden will now have an excellent opportunity as L.A.'s primary pass-catching tight end, and he should be a popular waiver-wire addition going into the Chargers' Week 3 game against the Buffalo Bills.
Source: NFL Network - Taylor Bisciotti
Source: NFL Network - Taylor Bisciotti
David Njoku Headed to Injured Reserve With Fibula Injury
Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said on Monday that tight end David Njoku (leg) will go on Injured Reserve with a fibula injury that he suffered in the Week 2 loss to the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, according to Taylor Bisciotti of the NFL Network. The 30-year-old veteran was carted off the field on Sunday with what was initially being described as a knee injury. Later on, tight end Charlie Kolar left with a forearm injury, and he, too, will head to IR, leaving Oronde Gadsden as the Chargers' clear No. 1 tight end going forward. Njoku was a waiver-wire option following his performance in the season-opening loss to the Arizona Cardinals, in which he caught all five of his targets for 58 yards. He caught one of his three targets for nine yards on Sunday before suffering his injury. At the very least, Njoku will have to miss the next four games, but it is unclear yet if his fibula injury is more serious than that. Fantasy managers looking for depth at TE should definitely set their sights on Gadsden going into Week 3.
Source: NFL Network - Taylor Bisciotti
Source: NFL Network - Taylor Bisciotti
Keaton Mitchell Still Waiting on a Bigger Role
Los Angeles Chargers running back Keaton Mitchell got a little more work Sunday, but not enough to change the bigger picture in the backfield. Mitchell carried five times for 24 yards and caught his only target for 15 yards in the loss to Las Vegas after seeing four carries in Week 1. Omarion Hampton, meanwhile, handled 23 carries and caught both of his targets, so there is still a wide gap between the starter and everyone else. Kimani Vidal has yet to record an offensive touch through two games, but the Chargers continue to list Mitchell and Vidal together behind Hampton on the depth chart. That makes Mitchell interesting without making him trustworthy yet. The speed is there, and six touches were at least a small step forward, but fantasy managers need more before putting him anywhere near a lineup. RotoBaller ranks Mitchell 25th among Week 3 waiver options and recommends him in 12-team PPR leagues. For now, he is a stash for managers who can afford to wait on the role.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Charlie Kolar Seen Wearing a Sling
Los Angeles Chargers tight end Charlie Kolar (forearm) was wearing a sling on his left arm after he was injured in Sunday's Week 2 loss to the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders, according to Kris Rhim of ESPN. Head coach Jim Harbaugh did not have any further updates on Kolar's status on Monday. Before getting hurt on Sunday, Kolar caught all three of his targets for 21 yards while playing 40 offensive snaps. Fellow tight end David Njoku also injured his knee in the same contest and was ruled out, leaving Oronde Gadsden as the Chargers' primary pass-catching TE. Gadsden caught both of his targets for just 18 yards, but he also found the end zone for the first time this season. With both Kolar and Njoku banged up heading into Week 3 against the Buffalo Bills on the road, Gadsden will be a speculative waiver-wire target for fantasy managers who are already looking for depth at the position. Kolar drew some buzz during training camp this summer, but through two games in 2026, he has taken a back seat to both Gadsden and Njoku.
Source: ESPN.com - Kris Rhim
Source: ESPN.com - Kris Rhim
Oronde Gadsden Gains Waiver Appeal After Tight End Injuries
Los Angeles Chargers tight end Oronde Gadsden has become a much more interesting Week 3 waiver option after injuries thinned out the position Sunday. David Njoku was carted off with a knee injury and did not return, while Charlie Kolar later left with a forearm injury and was also unable to come back. Gadsden caught both of his targets for 18 yards, including a 10-yard touchdown from Justin Herbert. The volume was still modest, so this is not a must-add situation in every league yet. The opportunity could change quickly, though. Gadsden caught 49 passes for 664 yards and three touchdowns as a rookie last season, and he could move into a much larger role if Njoku or Kolar misses time. Through two games, he has caught all four of his targets for 50 yards and a score. Gadsden is a strong add in 12-team leagues, with his Week 3 value depending heavily on the injury updates ahead of him.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Quentin Johnston Produces Another Low Catch Rate in Week 2
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston caught just one of his five targets for seven yards during Sunday's Week 2 loss against the Las Vegas Raiders. For the second week in a row, Johnston handled a respectable target share but couldn't convert his opportunities into production. Through two games, he now has three catches on 11 targets, which translates to an astoundingly low 27.2% catch rate. The TCU product has taken a backseat to Ladd McConkey on offense, as expected, and he has also been less productive than Tre' Harris so far. Purely based on volume alone, we'd expect Johnston to bounce back as a low-end WR3/flex. However, the low catch rate is certainly worrisome. He's not a must-start fantasy receiver for Week 3 against the Buffalo Bills.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Oronde Gadsden Finds the End Zone in Week 2 Loss
Los Angeles Chargers tight end Oronde Gadsden caught his two targets for 18 yards and one touchdown in Sunday's devastating 26-14 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. The 23-year-old salvages his Week 2 outing by catching Justin Herbert's lone passing touchdown. However, Gadsden could see a slight bump in his fantasy value if David Njoku (knee) and Charlie Kolar (forearm) miss time. Both tight ends left the game early with their injuries and did not return. The severity of the injuries for Njoku and Kolar is something to monitor over the next few days. Through two games, Gadsden has caught all four of his targets for 50 yards and one touchdown. Gadsden has had a slow start to his sophomore campaign due to limited targets in a crowded offense. Gadsden and the Chargers will head on the road for the first time this season to face the Buffalo Bills in Week 3.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Tre' Harris Leads Chargers in Receiving Yards in Week 2 Loss
Los Angeles Chargers wideout Tre' Harris caught one of his three targets for 53 yards in Sunday's devastating 26-14 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. The 24-year-old had the Chargers' top play of the day on a critical third down that put the team in the red zone. The 53-yard play was a glimpse of Harris' big-play upside he possesses. However, the Ole Miss product continues to operate as the team's WR3 behind Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston. Through two weeks, Harris has caught four of his nine targets and has no touchdowns. He will remain an intriguing fantasy receiver in deep leagues but should remain off fantasy radars in standard-sized leagues. Harris and the Chargers will head on the road for the first time this season to face the Buffalo Bills in Week 3.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Ladd McConkey Guts Out Three Catches in Week 2 Loss
Los Angeles Chargers wideout Ladd McConkey (ribs) caught all three of his targets for 35 yards in Sunday's devastating 26-14 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. The 24-year-old was questionable heading into the matchup with a rib injury he sustained after a hard hit in Week 1. McConkey wore a flak jacket under his uniform for extra protection. However, McConkey still took a dip in targets, likely due to his injury after being the focal point of the offense in the season opener. Through two games, he has caught eight of his 10 targets for 117 yards and one touchdown. Unfortunately, McConkey will be battling this rib injury for an extended period of time and will cap his fantasy ceiling moving forward. McConkey and the Chargers will head on the road for the first time this season to face the Buffalo Bills in Week 3.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Keaton Mitchell Sees Six Touches in Week 2 Loss
Los Angeles Chargers running back Keaton Mitchell had five carries for 24 yards in Sunday's devastating 26-14 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. The 24-year-old also caught his lone target for 15 yards. Mitchell was one of Mike McDaniel's players he campaigned for during free agency; however, he has seen minimal touches translate into no fantasy success. Through two games, he has totaled nine carries for 33 yards and zero touchdowns. Mitchell has the speed and the explosiveness to be fantasy-relevant on limited touches, but he has yet to produce a carry over 12 yards. The East Carolina product should remain out of fantasy lineups in Week 3 as the team travels to Buffalo.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Omarion Hampton Has Bounce-Back Performance in Week 2 Loss
Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton had 23 carries for 94 yards, a touchdown, and a fumble in Sunday's devastating 26-14 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. The 23-year-old also caught both of his targets for 21 yards. After struggling in Week 1, Hampton bounced back with an 18.5 PPR-point performance that will likely place him among the top-8 running backs this week. Hampton saw a slight uptick in usage in the Chargers' passing game this week, which boosts his fantasy production for the rest of the season if he continues to get touches through the air. Through two weeks, Hampton has totaled 35 carries for 137 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. The panic meter spiked for the Chargers after dropping their first two games, but Hampton can still be a valuable fantasy asset if he continues to get a lot of volume. Hampton and the Chargers will head on the road for the first time this season to face the Buffalo Bills in Week 3.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Justin Herbert Continues His Struggles in Week 2 Loss
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert went 15-for-27 for 192 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions in his team's devastating 26-14 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. Herbert also had three carries for two yards while putting the ball on the turf three times, but it didn't result in any turnovers. The panic meter has spiked for the Chargers after dropping to 0-2 after being heavy favorites to open the year. To make matters worse, the team is gearing up to face the hardest seven-game stretch and likely will not be the favorite in a matchup until they face the New York Jets in Week 11. Through two weeks, Herbert is 32-for-54 (59%) for 401 yards, two touchdowns, three interceptions, and is outside the top 20 quarterbacks in fantasy points. Herbert and the Chargers will attempt to get their season on track at Buffalo in Week 3.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Derwin James Jr. Suffers Broken Finger
Los Angeles Chargers defensive back Derwin James Jr. (finger) was forced to make an early exit from Sunday's game against the Las Vegas Raiders. James suffered a broken pinky finger during the first quarter of Sunday's contest, per Kris Rhim. He recorded seven tackles before leaving the contest. It sounds like James wants to play with a cast on his hand moving forward. His absence from his secondary would certainly be a significant hit to the Chargers' defense. They certainly felt his absence during the second half of Sunday's loss to the Raiders. Tony Jefferson is a candidate to see increased playing time if James misses time.
Source: Kris Rhim
Source: Kris Rhim
David Njoku Leaves Game Against Raiders with Knee Injury
Los Angeles Chargers tight end David Njoku (knee) was carted off the field in the second quarter against the Las Vegas Raiders and did not return to the game. Njoku finished the 26-14 loss to the Raiders with one catch on three targets for nine yards. Following the game, Los Angeles head coach Jim Harbaugh said he did not have an update on Njoku, according to Alex Insdorf of Bolts Breakdown. Fellow L.A. tight end Charlie Kolar (forearm) also exited the game with a forearm injury after recording three receptions for 21 yards. Meanwhile, Oronde Gadsden caught each of his two targets for 18 yards. The severity of the injuries to Njoku and Kolar is something to monitor.
Source: Los Angeles Chargers
Source: Los Angeles Chargers
Charlie Kolar Suffers Forearm Injury in Loss to Raiders
Los Angeles Chargers tight end Charlie Kolar (forearm) suffered a forearm injury in the second half of a 26-14 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders and was deemed questionable to return. It did not appear that Kolar was able to return. He finished the game with three receptions for 21 yards. In Week 1, Kolar did not record an offensive statistic despite playing 30 offensive snaps. The Chargers also lost fellow tight end David Njoku (knee), who was carted off the field, to a knee injury earlier on Sunday. If Kolar and Njoku both miss time, tight end Oronde Gadsden could see more targets coming his way. L.A.'s tight end situation is one to monitor closely. UPDATE: Kolar was seen wearing a sling around his left arm after Sunday's loss to the Raiders, per ESPN's Kris Rhim.
Source: Los Angeles Chargers
Source: Los Angeles Chargers
