The Los Angeles Chargers' Week 1 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, who were 9.5-point underdogs entering the game, was made even worse by the loss of star wide receiver Ladd McConkey. McConkey suffered a rib and chest injury on a hard hit in the third quarter and is now reportedly considered day-to-day. He finished the game with five catches on seven targets for 82 yards and a touchdown.
With an 0-1 start, the Chargers can't afford to be without that level of production for long, and it doesn't sound like they're willing to take any chances. According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the Chargers are working out veteran wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling. More news: Insider Names Top 2 Teams to Watch for Joey Porter Jr Trade Valdes-Scantling split last season between the 49ers and Steelers, finishing with 120 receiving yards and one touchdown on 14 receptions across 10 total games, five with each team.
He signed a one-year deal with the Cowboys in April but was released as part of Dallas' final roster cuts in late August. He's no longer the elite vertical threat he once was in Green Bay or Kansas City, but he's still an experienced pass catcher with two Super Bowl titles to his name, both won with the Chiefs. More news: Sean Payton Assigns Blame After Broncos’ Blowout Loss to Chiefs More news: Jets Get Bad News on $40 Million Man After Injury Scare The Chargers bringing him in for a workout signals, more than anything, that McConkey could miss some time with the injury.
Los Angeles hosts the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, putting McConkey's Week 2 availability in question. After that, the Chargers face two tough road matchups against the Bills and Seahawks. If McConkey can't go in any of those games, Justin Herbert will need to lean on former first-round pick Quentin Johnston, last year's second-round pick Tre' Harris, or whichever free agent the team ultimately signs.
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