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Out again Sunday
Fri, Sep 25, 2026, 8:17 PM
Pipkins (knee) is listed as out for Sunday's game versus Buffalo.
Analysis: Pipkins will miss another game Sunday, meaning his next opportunity to get back on the field will come in Week 4 versus the Seahawks. |
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Sidelined for Week 3
Fri, Sep 25, 2026, 8:14 PM
Awosika (leg) is listed as out for Sunday's game against the Bills.
Analysis: Awosika injured his fibula during the 26-14 loss to the Raiders in Week 2. He's expected to miss time, so Sunday's absence may not be a one-off situation. While Awosika is sidelined, Trevor Penning should take on more work. |
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Good to go against Buffalo
Fri, Sep 25, 2026, 4:49 PM
Tuipulotu (hamstring) does not carry an injury designation into Sunday's game against the Bills.
Analysis: A hamstring injury limited Tuipulotu's practice participation Wednesday and Thursday, but he was a full participant in Friday's session, which was enough for him to avoid an injury tag for Week 3. The fourth-year pro has not logged a sack through the first two games of the regular season after recording a career-high 13.0 sacks across 16 regular-season games in 2025. |
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Ruled out for Week 3
Fri, Sep 25, 2026, 4:47 PM
Tomlinson (hamstring) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Bills.
Analysis: Tomlinson tweaked his hamstring against the Raiders in Week 2, and the injury prevented the veteran defensive lineman from practicing this past week. He'll aim to return for Week 4 against the Seahawks on Sunday, Oct. 4; in the meantime, Justin Eboigbe and Nick Barrett are both in line for an uptick in defensive snaps against Buffalo. |
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Won't play in Week 3
Fri, Sep 25, 2026, 4:43 PM
Molden (hamstring) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Bills.
Analysis: Molden will miss a second consecutive game due to a hamstring injury he sustained in the Chargers' Week 1 loss to the Cardinals. He failed to practice during Week 3 prep, so a return to practice in a limited capacity would put him in the right direction toward playing in Week 4 against the Seahawks on Sunday, Oct. 4. Tony Jefferson should continue to operate in an expanded role in the Chargers' secondary for as long as Molden is sidelined. |
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Trey Lance Trey Lance Nursing groin injury, iffy for Week 3
Fri, Sep 25, 2026, 4:39 PM
Lance was a limited participant in Friday's practice due to a groin injury and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Bills.
Analysis: Lance presumably tweaked his groin during Friday's practice, given that he wasn't listed on the injury report Wednesday nor Thursday. DJ Uiagalelei is the Chargers' QB on the practice squad, and he would likely serve as the team's backup to Justin Herbert if Lance is not cleared to play against Buffalo. |
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Brenen Thompson Brenen Thompson Ruled out for Week 3 vs. Buffalo
Fri, Sep 25, 2026, 4:36 PM
Thompson (quadriceps) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Bills.
Analysis: A quadriceps injury prevented Thompson from practicing during Week 3 prep, and the rookie fourth-rounder will look to progress enough in his recovery to return for Week 4 against the Seahawks on Sunday, Oct. 4. Tre' Harris, Derius Davis and Marquez Valdes-Scantling are all in line for a slight bump in offensive reps in Thompson's absence. |
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Brenen Thompson Brenen Thompson Idle for Thursday's practice
Thu, Sep 24, 2026, 9:25 PM
Thompson (quadriceps) did not practice Thursday.
Analysis: Thompson has missed each of the first two practices of Week 3 prep while tending to a quadriceps injury, and he'll have one more opportunity to practice in at least a limited capacity ahead of Sunday's road game against the Bills. The rookie fourth-rounder has operated in a depth role through the first two games of the regular season, logging one catch (on three targets) for 13 yards in that span. Derius Davis and recent free agent signing Marquez Valdes-Scantling would see more involvement in the offense if Thompson is unable to play in Buffalo. |
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Practices Thursday with cast on pinky finger
Thu, Sep 24, 2026, 9:22 PM
James (finger) was a full participant in Thursday's practice.
Analysis: James broke his pinky finger during the Chargers' Week 2 loss to the Raiders, but the veteran safety was on the field for Thursday's session with a cast on, per Kris Rhim of ESPN.com. James is track to play in Sunday's road game against the Bills, though it's unclear whether he will don the cast for that contest. He's logged 17 tackles (nine solo) and one pass defense through the first two games of the 2026 regular season. |
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Full participant Wednesday
Wed, Sep 23, 2026, 9:46 PM
Leonard (abdomen) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice.
Analysis: Leonard missed the Chargers' Week 2 loss to the Raiders with an abdominal issue. The cornerback has upgraded from limited practices in Week 2 to a full session in Week 3. The upgrade in practice participation means Leonard has likely overcome the issue and should be healthy enough to suit up for Sunday's game against the Bills. |
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Sidelined during Wednesday's practice
Wed, Sep 23, 2026, 8:22 PM
Tomlinson (hamstring) did not participate at practice Wednesday.
Analysis: Tomlinson is expected to miss some game action after hurting his hamstring during Sunday's loss versus the Raiders, so his absence from Wednesday's practice doesn't come as a surprise. Unless he returns to practice ahead of schedule later in the week, he's trending toward being unavailable in Week 3. |
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Can't practice Wednesday
Wed, Sep 23, 2026, 8:17 PM
Molden (hamstring) did not participate at practice Wednesday.
Analysis: Molden was forced to miss Sunday's loss versus the Raiders due to a hamstring injury he suffered in Week 1 versus the Cardinals, and now his status for Week 3 is also in question. He'll likely need to manage at least a limited practice Thursday or Friday to give himself an opportunity to suit up Sunday at Buffalo. |
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Sits out practice Wednesday
Wed, Sep 23, 2026, 8:12 PM
James (finger) did not participate at practice Wednesday.
Analysis: James was also marked with a "rest" designation on the official injury report Wednesday, so his absence may not be an indicator he's at risk of missing game action in Week 3. He suffered a broken pinky finger in Sunday's loss versus the Raiders, and the Chargers' official injury reports Thursday and Friday should provide some clarity on whether he'll be able to play through that Sunday at Buffalo. |
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Marquez Valdes-Scantling Marquez Valdes-Scantling Signed to active roster
Wed, Sep 23, 2026, 7:51 PM
Valdes-Scantling was signed to the Chargers' active roster Wednesday.
Analysis: Valdes-Scantling inked a deal to join the practice squad with Los Angeles on Sept. 15, and he will now get a shot with the active roster. The 31-year-old will provide the team with another veteran option at wide receiver ahead of Week 3 versus the Bills. |
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Brenen Thompson Brenen Thompson Dealing with quad issue
Wed, Sep 23, 2026, 6:10 PM
Thompson (quadriceps) did not participate at practice Wednesday.
Analysis: Thompson drew three targets in the Chargers' loss versus the Raiders in Week 2, but it appears he may have picked up a quad injury during that contest as well. He'll probably have to return to practice Thursday or Friday to give himself a chance to play in Week 3 at Buffalo. |
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David Njoku David Njoku Lands on IR
Wed, Sep 23, 2026, 2:36 PM
The Chargers placed Njoku (fibula) on injured reserve Wednesday.
Analysis: Njoku will be sidelined for at least the Chargers' next four games after sustaining a fibula injury in Sunday's 26-14 loss to the Raiders. Fellow tight end Charlie Kolar (forearm) was able to avoid placement on IR but has already been ruled out for the Chargers' Week 3 contest in Buffalo, leaving Oronde Gadsden as the top option on the depth chart heading into that game. |
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Charlie Kolar Charlie Kolar Out Week 3, but avoiding IR
Wed, Sep 23, 2026, 1:46 PM
Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said Wednesday that Kolar (forearm) won't play Sunday in Buffalo but is expected to avoid placement on injured reserve, Kris Rhim of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: After undergoing surgery on his fractured left forearm Monday, Kolar had been expected to head to injured reserve and return after missing the minimum four games. However, Harbaugh noted that Kolar ended up receiving a more favorable prognosis than expected once surgery was completed, and the Chargers are now optimistic that the 27-year-old can return to action prior to their Week 7 bye. Kolar will still need to miss at least one game, and with David Njoku (fibula) still ticketed for IR, Oronde Gadsden appears likely to operate as Los Angeles' clear No. 1 tight end for Week 3. |
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Kimani Vidal Kimani Vidal Not a factor once again
Tue, Sep 22, 2026, 11:15 PM
Vidal had zero rushes during Sunday's 26-14 defeat against Las Vegas.
Analysis: Vidal logged four offensive snaps in the 26-14 loss to Arizona in Week 1. Although he was slightly more involved in Week 2 against the Raiders (seven snaps), he went without a rushing attempt for a second straight game. The 25-year-old had some productive outings for fantasy managers during the 2025 campaign, finishing with 643 rushing yards and three touchdowns off 155 carries while adding 16 receptions for 136 yards and one touchdown. However, it's been a different story in 2026, with Vidal spending most of his time on special teams. His fantasy outlook doesn't look promising moving forward as long as Omarion Hampton and Keaton Mitchell are available. |
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Brenen Thompson Brenen Thompson Three targets in loss
Tue, Sep 22, 2026, 10:54 PM
Thompson caught one of his three targets for 13 yards in Sunday's 26-14 loss to the Raiders.
Analysis: Thompson's 13 offensive snaps were a distant third to the wide receivers ahead of him. Ladd McConkey logged 31 snaps, Quentin Johnston had 55 and Tre' Harris had 56. The wide receiver garnered some attention but was mainly used as a depth option. |
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Just three tackles in Week 2 loss
Tue, Sep 22, 2026, 8:51 PM
Henley recorded three assisted tackles during Sunday's 26-14 loss to the Raiders.
Analysis: It was just the third time Henley recorded three tackles or less in a regular-season games since the start of the 2025 campaign. The fourth-year pro is up to 11 total tackles, including 0.5 sacks, through two regular-season games and is looking to log a third consecutive 100-tackle campaign. |
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