| News |
|---|
|
Keenan Allen Keenan Allen Leading receiver on 13 targets
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 9:54 PM
Allen finished with seven receptions on 13 targets for 36 yards in Sunday's 19-3 loss to the Broncos.
Analysis: Allen was one of the few starters head coach Jim Harbaugh allowed to suit up for Sunday's regular-season finale against Denver. The 33-year-old Allen responded to last week's one-catch performance by leading his club in targets, receptions and yardage with backup QB Trey Lance under center. Allen produced solid PPR numbers in his return to the Chargers this season, accruing 81 receptions for 777 yards and four touchdowns across 17 games. Look for Allen to serve as a security blanket for QB Justin Herbert against the Patriots in the wild-card round of the playoffs next Sunday. |
|
Trey Lance Trey Lance Makes impact with legs Sunday
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 9:44 PM
Lance completed 20 of 44 pass attempts for 136 yards and an interception while gaining 69 yards and losing a fumble on nine carries in Sunday's 19-3 loss to Denver.
Analysis: QB Justin Herbert was a healthy scratch in Week 18 with the Chargers having little to play for regarding playoff seeding. This afforded Lance to make his first start of the season, and the results were mediocre as expected against one of the league's top defensive units. The No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft was able to put his athleticism on display by gaining 69 yards for desperate fantasy managers. That's where the good feedback ends after Lance completed less than half of his 44 pass attempts, with his only touchdown pass going to the other team via a pick-six in the one-sided loss. Lance will resume his backup role behind Herbert when the Chargers visit the Patriots next Sunday for the wild-card round of the playoffs. |
|
Kimani Vidal Kimani Vidal Four touches in Week 18 loss
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 8:53 PM
Vidal rushed three times for 12 yards and caught one pass for a two-yard loss in Sunday's loss to the Broncos.
Analysis: After missing Week 17 with a neck strain, Vidal returned to handle four touches in a game the Chargers punted with an eye toward the playoffs. Jaret Patterson led the backfield with eight carries for 29 yards. Vidal should have more of a role next weekend in Los Angeles' wild-card matchup with New England, but Omarion Hampton (ankle) should be ready to go as the Bolts' lead back after resting against Denver. Hampton is the preferred fantasy option of the duo. |
|
KeAndre Lambert-Smith KeAndre Lambert-Smith Done for night
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 5:54 PM
Lambert-Smith (hamstring) has been ruled out for the rest of Sunday's contest against the Broncos.
Analysis: Lambert-Smith suffered a hamstring injury in the second quarter, and his night has now officially come to a premature end. Tre' Harris and Derius Davis could see a slight uptick in usage at wide receiver in his absence. |
|
KeAndre Lambert-Smith KeAndre Lambert-Smith Tweaks hamstring, iffy to return
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 5:19 PM
Lambert-Smith (hamstring) is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Broncos.
Analysis: Lambert-Smith appeared to sustain the injury late in the second quarter after hauling in an 18-yard pass from Trey Lance. Derius Davis would serve as the primary returner on kickoffs and see more snaps on offense if Lambert-Smith is unable to return. |
|
Hassan Haskins Hassan Haskins All good for regular-season finale
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 2:16 PM
Haskins (concussion) is active for Sunday's contest against the Broncos.
Analysis: Haskins was able to clear concussion protocol during the week, and he'll now potentially be set for an increased workload in the team's regular-season finale with Omarion Hampton (ankle) inactive. The running back will likely operate as second fiddle to Kimani Vidal in the backfield, but he'll have a good shot to challenge his previous season-high six carries from Week 6. |
|
Kimani Vidal Kimani Vidal Good to go for Week 18
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 2:11 PM
Vidal (neck) is active for Sunday's game against the Broncos.
Analysis: After missing the Chargers' Week 17 loss to the Texans while recovering from a neck strain, Vidal practiced in a limited fashion Wednesday before putting in a pair of full practices to close out Week 18 prep. The Chargers still listed him as questionable on their final injury report, but the second-year running back displayed enough progress to gain clearance for the regular-season finale. With Omarion Hampton (ankle) sitting out this weekend, Vidal looks to be the favorite to draw the start out of the Los Angeles backfield, but he could struggle to run efficiently behind a banged-up offensive line while taking aim at Denver's second-ranked rush defense (89.7 yards per game). |
|
Justin Herbert Justin Herbert Officially inactive for Week 18
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 2:07 PM
Herbert (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game in Denver.
Analysis: Head coach Jim Harbaugh announced earlier in the week that Herbert was slated to sit out the regular-season finale, so the quarterback's inactive status is merely a formality. With Herbert resting in advance of the wild-card round of the playoffs, the Chargers will turn to Trey Lance to make his first start of the season under center. The Chargers elevated DJ Uiagalelei from the practice squad to serve as Lance's backup in Week 18. |
|
Derius Davis Derius Davis Set to suit up
Fri, Jan 2, 2026, 5:58 PM
Davis (ankle) doesn't have an injury designation ahead of Sunday's game against the Broncos, Eric Smith of the Chargers' official site reports.
Analysis: Davis was able to upgrade to a full participant in Friday's practice, just in time to dodge any injury designation ahead of Sunday's game. The kick and punt returner will play in his first game since he suffered his ankle injury in the Chargers' Week 14 win over the Eagles. The 25-year-old is set to reclaim primary kickoff return duties from rookie KeAndre Lambert-Smith. He is also set to replace Ladd McConkey as the primary punt returner for the team. |
|
Justin Herbert Justin Herbert Not slated to play Sunday
Fri, Jan 2, 2026, 4:59 PM
Herbert (left hand/rest) doesn't carry an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Broncos but is not in line to play in the contest, Eric Smith of the Chargers' official site reports.
Analysis: Herbert, who has been managing a left hand injury, was rested in practice Thursday and Friday, and the Chargers intend to rest the QB on Sunday as well. Per Omar Navarro of the team's official site, Trey Lance is slated to start in place of Herbert this weekend, with DJ Uiagalelei on track to be elevated from the practice squad in order to back up Lance, a scenario that should land Herbert on the the team's Week 18 inactive list. |
|
Kimani Vidal Kimani Vidal Questionable for Sunday
Fri, Jan 2, 2026, 3:20 PM
Vidal (neck) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game at Denver.
Analysis: Meanwhile, Omarion Hampton (ankle) has been ruled out, and Hassan Haskins (concussion) also is listed as questionable. Because QB Justin Herbert (left hand/rest) isn't in line to play this weekend, there's a chance Vidal and/or Haskins also end up on the inactive list Sunday, a scenario that would leave the backfield to some combination of practice-squad members Jaret Patterson and Amar Johnson. Ultimately, the Chargers will need to make decisions on Vidal and Haskins about 90 minutes before a 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff. |
|
Omarion Hampton Omarion Hampton Won't play Sunday
Fri, Jan 2, 2026, 3:19 PM
Hampton (ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday's regular-season finale against the Broncos.
Analysis: Meanwhile, fellow RBs Kimani Vidal (neck) and Hassan Haskins (concussion) are both listed as questionable for Sunday's 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff, which presumably means that Jaret Patterson and/or Amar Johnson will be elevated from the Chargers' practice squad ahead of Week 18 action. Hampton's next chance to see game action thus is slated to arrive in the team's playoff opener during the wild-card round. |
|
Hassan Haskins Hassan Haskins Questionable for Week 18
Fri, Jan 2, 2026, 3:19 PM
Haskins (concussion) is officially listed as questionable for Sunday's regular-season finale against the Broncos.
Analysis: Haskins will need to gain full clearance from the NFL's concussion protocol, including from an independent neurologist, in order to be eligible to suit up Sunday versus Denver. Meanwhile, Omarion Hampton (ankle) has been ruled out for Week 18 while Kimani Vidal (neck) is listed as questionable. Head coach Jim Harbaugh has already stated that the Chargers will rest some starters in preparation for the team's looming playoff run, so if he's cleared to play, Haskins could be in line for an elevated role on offense. |
|
Kimani Vidal Kimani Vidal Full practice Thursday
Thu, Jan 1, 2026, 7:12 PM
Vidal (neck) practice fully Thursday, Eric Smith of the Chargers' official reports.
Analysis: Meanwhile, Omarion Hampton (ankle) didn't practice Thursday and Hassan Haskins (concussion) was limited, so at this stage the composition of the Chargers' Week 18 backfield has yet to be determined. In the wake of his full practice, Vidal is on track to be available Sunday against the Broncos, but if the team elects to rest or limit key players apart from QB Justin Herbert (who will give way to Trey Lance this weekend) it's possible that Jaret Patterson and/or Amar Johnson could be elevated from the practice squad and see their share of touches alongside Vidal in Los Angeles' regular-season finale. |
|
Omarion Hampton Omarion Hampton Misses another practice Thursday
Thu, Jan 1, 2026, 6:57 PM
Hampton (ankle) didn't practice Thursday, Eric Smith of the Chargers' official reports.
Analysis: Hampton also logged a 'DNP' on Wednesday, and considering that the Chargers are planning to rest QB Justin Herbert (hand) in Week 18, it's possible that they'll err on the side of caution with Hampton, with the team's looming playoff run in mind. In any case, Friday's final injury report will reveal whether Hampton has a chance to be in uniform Sunday against the Broncos, or will instead have to wait until wild-card weekend to see his next game action. |
|
Hassan Haskins Hassan Haskins Able to log limited practice Wednesday
Wed, Dec 31, 2025, 6:12 PM
Haskins (concussion) was a limited practice participant Wednesday, Eric Smith of the Chargers' official site reports.
Analysis: Haskins suffered a concussion Saturday versus the Texans, but his limited practice to begin Week 18 prep suggests he could return this Sunday against Denver. For that to happen, though, he'd have to clear the NFL's five-step concussion protocol. If Haskins is able to play, he could have an elevated role on offense since head coach Jim Harbaugh has already indicated he'll rest at least some starters ahead of Los Angeles' upcoming playoff run. |
|
Derius Davis Derius Davis Posts limited practice Wednesday
Wed, Dec 31, 2025, 6:01 PM
Davis (ankle) was a limited participant in practice Wednesday, Eric Smith of the Chargers' official site reports.
Analysis: Davis has missed Los Angeles' past three games due to an ankle injury. It's a step in the right direction that he was able to log a limited practice Wednesday after not practicing at all last week. Davis thus seems to have a chance to return to action Sunday versus Denver for a game that head coach Jim Harbaugh has said he'll rest at least some of his starters. If Davis can play, he could see a slightly elevated role on offense and would also probably reclaim his role as the Chargers' top return man. |
|
Justin Herbert Justin Herbert Limited practice Wednesday
Wed, Dec 31, 2025, 5:38 PM
Herbert (left hand/rest) was limited at practice Wednesday, Eric Smith of the Chargers' official site reports.
Analysis: Coach Jim Harbaugh announced Monday that Herbert is not in line to see action in the playoff-bound Chargers' regular-season finale against the Broncos on Sunday, with the QB's listed limitations Wednesday an acknowledgement that he continues to manage a (non-throwing) hand issue ahead of Week 18. In any case, if Herbert isn't officially ruled out on Friday's final injury report, he's on track to be made inactive Sunday, which sets the stage for Trey Lance to start against Denver, with practice squad member DJ Uiagalelei in line to be elevated to serve as the team's No. 2 QB. |
|
Kimani Vidal Kimani Vidal Returns to practice
Wed, Dec 31, 2025, 5:31 PM
Vidal (neck) returned to practice Wednesday as a limited participant.
Analysis: Omarion Hampton (DNP - ankle) and Hassan Haskins (LP - head) are also on the injury report, after Vidal and Haskins missed Saturday's loss to Houston. Health won't be the only factor, as Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh already said QB Justin Herbert won't play this Sunday at Denver. Other starters may also be held out or pulled early. |
|
Omarion Hampton Omarion Hampton Not practicing
Wed, Dec 31, 2025, 5:26 PM
Hampton (ankle) didn't practice Wednesday.
Analysis: There was no sign of injury during Saturday's 20-16 loss to the Texans, in which Hampton took 22 touches for 60 yards and a touchdown while playing 83 percent of snaps. Injury or not, Jim Harbaugh's announcement about resting Justin Herbert indicates that Hampton is highly unlikely to get a full workload this week. In fact, it's not even clear the rookie will play at all, potentially opening up a starting opportunity for Kimani Vidal (neck), Hassan Haskins (head) or Jaret Patterson. |
Connect With Us:
