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Justin Herbert Justin Herbert Logs full practice Wednesday
Wed, Jan 7, 2026, 6:04 PM
Herbert (left hand) practiced fully Wednesday, Eric Smith of the Chargers' official site reports.
Analysis: The Chargers elected to rest Herbert -- who has been managing a left (non-throwing) hand injury -- in the team's Week 18 loss to Broncos, with an eye toward giving their starting QB added healing time ahead of the postseason. On that topic, Herbert said Wednesday that his left hand feels as strong as it has since before he injured it in Week 13. "Not taking hits on it last week was probably pretty helpful," Herbert noted. Moreover, in preparation for Sunday night's wild-card contest against the Patriots, Herbert took snaps under center during Wednesday's session after having previously waited until Saturday or Sunday to do so of late. |
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KeAndre Lambert-Smith KeAndre Lambert-Smith Not practicing Wednesday
Wed, Jan 7, 2026, 2:54 PM
Lambert-Smith (hamstring) did not participate in practice Wednesday, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Lambert-Smith suffered a hamstring injury during the Chargers' Week 18 loss to the Broncos and was unable to return to the contest. The 23-year-old has two more chances to participate in practice before Sunday's playoff matchup against the Patriots. Should Lambert-Smith be unable to return, Tre' Harris and Derius Davis could see a slightly higher snap count at wide receiver. |
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Tucker Fisk Tucker Fisk Designated to return from IR
Wed, Jan 7, 2026, 2:39 PM
The Chargers designated Fisk (ankle) to return from injured reserve Wednesday, Kris Rhim of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Fisk has been on IR with an ankle injury since Dec 8. The tight end's return would be a solid depth addition to a Chargers corps that consists of Oronde Gadsden, Will Dissly and Tyler Conklin. Fisk played in 10 games this year, where he recorded two receptions for 19 yards on two targets. The 26-year-old will have three chances this week to show sufficient practice participation and prove he is ready to suit up for Sunday's playoff game against the Patriots. |
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Omarion Hampton Omarion Hampton Not practicing Wednesday
Wed, Jan 7, 2026, 2:10 PM
Hampton (ankle) won't practice Wednesday, Kris Rhim of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: This would seem to suggest that Hampton's ankle injury is a real concern, which wasn't clear last week when his absence coincided with the Chargers resting some healthy starters in a loss to Denver. Hampton handled 22 touches in a Week 17 loss to Houston, but he hasn't practiced since, leaving the Chargers with Kimani Vidal, Hassan Haskins and Jaret Patterson in the backfield as they kick off the week of practice ahead of Sunday's game at New England. |
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Quentin Johnston Quentin Johnston Doesn't play in Week 18
Wed, Jan 7, 2026, 7:53 AM
Johnston did not play in Sunday's 19-3 loss to the Broncos.
Analysis: Like several other key contributors in the Chargers' offense, the team afforded Johnston the day to rest in Week 18 as Los Angeles looks ahead to the AFC playoffs. The 24-year-old wideout did not see the field Sunday, ending the 2025 regular season with 51 catches for 735 yards and eight touchdowns on 84 targets, adding two rushes for seven yards. Johnston's eight trips to the end zone matched his career high while his receptions and yards nearly matched his totals from last season. The TCU product continues to develop chemistry with quarterback Justin Herbert, and he'll look to be an impact player Sunday when the Chargers visit the Patriots in the first round of the wild-card playoffs. |
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Ladd McConkey Ladd McConkey Rests in Week 18 loss
Wed, Jan 7, 2026, 7:40 AM
McConkey did not play in Sunday's 19-3 loss to the Broncos.
Analysis: With the Chargers looking ahead to the AFC playoffs, head coach Jim Harbaugh chose to rest McConkey and many other offensive players against the Broncos. The 24-year-old wideout finished the regular season with 66 receptions for 789 yards and six touchdowns on 106 targets, all down from his rookie campaign. Despite seeing a dip in his production in his second season, McConkey led the team in receiving yards. The Georgia product will look to have a key role in the Chargers' offensive plans Sunday when the Chargers visit New England in the first round of the wild-card playoffs. |
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Jaret Patterson Jaret Patterson Expanded role with starter resting
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 10:37 PM
Patterson rushed eight times for 29 yards while adding three receptions on four targets for eight yards in Sunday's 19-3 loss to Denver.
Analysis: Patterson was able to re-emerge in Week 18 with starter Omarion Hampton sitting out the season finale along with several other key players. The 25-year-old Patterson led the Chargers' backfield in touches, although it was QB Trey Lance who led the team in rushing (9-69-0) Sunday. Hampton will be available for the wild-card round of the playoffs, so Patterson can safely be ignored against the Patriots next Sunday. |
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Oronde Gadsden Oronde Gadsden Low volume without starting QB
Sun, Jan 4, 2026, 10:26 PM
Gadsden brought in both of his targets for 23 yards in Sunday's 19-3 loss to the Broncos.
Analysis: Gadsden was one of a handful of key players on offense allowed to take the field for the Chargers in Week 18. The 2025 fifth-round pick was able to add a couple of receptions to his rookie total, bringing his final line up to 49-664-3 in 15 appearances this regular season. While the tight end certainly surpassed expectations as a rookie, Gadsden's inconsistent play down the stretch makes him a risky DFS play in the wild-card round, even with QB Justin Herbert back under center. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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). |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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