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Joshua Kelley Joshua Kelley Poised for lead role again
Fri, Sep 29, 2023, 5:02 PM
Kelley appears on track for his third straight start at running back Sunday against the Raiders with Austin Ekeler (ankle) listed as doubtful for the contest.
Analysis: With three straight limited practices this week, Ekeler took a major step forward in his recovery from the high-ankle sprain that has kept him sidelined the past two games. However, with a bye on tap Week 5, the Chargers appear inclined to err on the side of caution with their lead back, who looks set to miss a third straight game before likely returning to action for a Week 6 matchup with the Cowboys on Oct. 16. Kelley is thus set up for another look as the Chargers' No. 1 back, though he hasn't exactly made the most of his previous two opportunities. Despite playing more than 70 percent of the snaps on offense in both of the past two games, Kelley has combined for 51 yards on 24 carries and one reception for five yards while failing to find the end zone. |
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Gerald Everett Gerald Everett All clear for Week 4
Fri, Sep 29, 2023, 3:27 PM
Everett (illness) doesn't carry an injury designation into Sunday's game against the Raiders.
Analysis: Everett was unable to practice Wednesday or Thursday, but he returned to full participation Friday, suggesting that he has recovered from the illness. The tight end is a candidate to take on more targets with wide receiver Mike Williams (knee) out for the season, but Everett has ceded red-zone opportunities to Donald Parham, who has three touchdowns on seven targets. Meanwhile, Everett has yet to find the end zone on 12 targets this season. |
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Austin Ekeler Austin Ekeler Doubtful for Week 4
Fri, Sep 29, 2023, 3:13 PM
Ekeler (ankle) is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against the Raiders.
Analysis: Ekeler, who has missed two straight games, was able to log limited practices this week, but he's trending toward another absence Sunday. Given that the Chargers are on bye Week 5, look for the team to take a cautious approach and hold Ekeler out for another game before he likely makes his return from a high-ankle sprain for a Week 6 matchup with the Cowboys on Oct. 16. Assuming Ekeler is inactive this weekend, Joshua Kelley will continue to lead the team's backfield versus Las Vegas, with Isaiah Spiller and Elijah Dotson available to handle complementary snaps. |
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Gerald Everett Gerald Everett Back at practice
Fri, Sep 29, 2023, 2:23 PM
Everett (illness) returned to practice Friday, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Everett didn't practice Wednesday or Thursday, but his return to the field Friday bodes well for his chances of playing Sunday against the Raiders. The Chargers' upcoming injury report will determine whether tight end approaches the contest with a designation or cleared for Week 4 action. |
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Austin Ekeler Austin Ekeler Logs another limited practice
Thu, Sep 28, 2023, 4:27 PM
Ekeler (ankle) was a limited practice participant Thursday.
Analysis: Ekeler, who has missed two straight games, was also limited Wednesday in his return to practice, with his status for Sunday's game against the Raiders to be determined. Per Kris Rhim of ESPN.com Ekeler noted after Wednesday's session that a return to action this weekend is a "possibility." Friday's final injury report will reveal Ekeler's Week 4 injury designation, but if there's any doubt about the soundness of his ankle heading into Sunday, the Chargers could opt to err on the side of caution and hold him out for another contest with a Week 5 bye on tap. |
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Gerald Everett Gerald Everett Misses another practice
Thu, Sep 28, 2023, 4:15 PM
Everett (illness) was a non-participant in Thursday's practice.
Analysis: Everett has now missed two straight practices, so what the tight end is able to do Friday -- if anything -- will be telling with regard to his chances of playing Sunday against the Raiders. If Everett ends up sitting out this weekend, Donald Parham would be in line for an expanded role at tight end. |
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Gerald Everett Gerald Everett Misses practice Wednesday
Wed, Sep 27, 2023, 4:23 PM
Everett (illness) didn't practice Wednesday.
Analysis: Everett has two more chances to practice ahead of Sunday's game against the Raiders, but the tight end's status is now worth monitoring in advance of Week 4 action. In the Chargers' 28-24 win over the Vikings this past weekend, Everett caught all six of his targets for 30 yards. |
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Austin Ekeler Austin Ekeler Logs limited practice
Wed, Sep 27, 2023, 4:19 PM
Ekeler (ankle) returned to a limited practice Wednesday.
Analysis: Ekeler didn't practice at all last week, so his return to the field Wednesday, albeit in a limited fashion, is a positive indicator with regard to the running back's chances of suiting up Sunday against the Raiders. Ekeler will now have two more chances to upgrade to full participation, which he'd presumably need to do in order to avoid a Week 4 injury designation. |
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Austin Ekeler Austin Ekeler Spotted at practice
Wed, Sep 27, 2023, 2:34 PM
Ekeler (ankle) is present for practice Wednesday, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Ekeler has missed two straight games, but his presence on the field Wednesday offers hope that the running could return to action Sunday against the Raiders. The Chargers' upcoming injury report will provide valuable context on that front by clarifying Ekeler's participation level. |
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Simi Fehoko Simi Fehoko Picked up by Chargers
Tue, Sep 26, 2023, 4:38 PM
The Chargers signed Fehoko off of Pittsburgh's practice squad Tuesday.
Analysis: After Mike Williams went down for the season Sunday with a torn ACL, it makes sense for the Chargers to add some depth to their wide receiver room. Fehoko's path to targets is a narrow one though, as he'll likely be behind Keenan Allen, Joshua Palmer and Quentin Johnston, at least to start. |
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Mike Williams Mike Williams Makes way to injured reserve
Tue, Sep 26, 2023, 4:16 PM
The Chargers placed Williams (knee) on injured reserve Tuesday.
Analysis: This is merely a procedural move after an MRI confirmed Monday that Williams suffered a torn ACL in his left knee during Week 3 action against the Vikings. He'll end his 2023 campaign with 19 catches on 26 targets for 249 yards and one touchdown in three appearances. In Williams' place, Joshua Palmer and rookie first-rounder Quentin Johnston are expected to see bigger roles alongside No. 1 wide receiver Keenan Allen. |
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Joshua Palmer Joshua Palmer Could get pronounced role
Mon, Sep 25, 2023, 12:25 PM
Palmer is expected to see more targets moving forward after Mike Williams was diagnosed Monday with a season-ending ACL tear, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: Both Palmer and 2023 first-round pick Quentin Johnston are expected to take on increased volume in the Chargers' passing game in Williams' absence, though Keenan Allen should continue to work as the top target for quarterback Justin Herbert. Through three games, Palmer has 13 targets -- exactly one third of Allen's total and half of Williams' -- while Johnston has been targeted only eight times. |
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Quentin Johnston Quentin Johnston Expanded role on tap
Mon, Sep 25, 2023, 11:49 AM
Johnston is slated for a larger role on offense with Mike Williams (knee) having suffered a season-ending ACL tear, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: Johnston has played less than 25 percent of offensive snaps in each of the Chargers' first three games this season, but he'll need to step up quickly for the passing game with Williams, an every-down player, done for the year. The rookie first-round pick profiles particularly well as a deep threat, which makes him both an ideal fit for Justin Herbert's arm talent and as a complement to Keenan Allen, but he has yet to flash that explosiveness at the NFL level. Sunday's upcoming matchup against a struggling Raiders secondary could set the stage well for Johnston to take advantage of his new opportunity, however. Meanwhile, Joshua Palmer also figures to step into a larger spotlight in the wake of Williams' injury. |
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Mike Williams Mike Williams Torn ACL confirmed
Mon, Sep 25, 2023, 11:12 AM
Williams (knee) was diagnosed with a season-ending ACL injury after undergoing an MRI following Sunday's 28-24 win over the Vikings, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: Williams is expected to be ready for training camp next year, per Adam Schefter of ESPN, but the injury is brutal news for Los Angeles' wide receiver corps. The Chargers have Joshua Palmer and rookie first-round pick Quentin Johnston available to step up behind Keenan Allen, but replacing Williams -- who caught seven of his eight targets for 121 yards and a touchdown before leaving the field Sunday -- will be no easy feat. Expect Williams to officially be placed on injured reserve in the coming days. |
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Donald Parham Donald Parham Snares two TDs
Mon, Sep 25, 2023, 10:49 AM
Parham caught both his targets for four yards and two touchdowns in a 28-24 win over the Vikings on Sunday.
Analysis: At this point, it's clear the 6-foot-8 tight end is one of quarterback Justin Herbert's favorite red-zone options, with four of Parham's seven targets so far in 2023 coming inside the 20-yard line, leading to three short TDs. Parham played 34 snaps compared to starter Gerald Everett's 38 on Sunday, but it would be more encouraging for his fantasy consistency if Parham were more involved in all facets of the offense. |
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Gerald Everett Gerald Everett Catches six targets
Mon, Sep 25, 2023, 10:46 AM
Everett caught all six of his targets for 30 yards in the 28-24 win over the Vikings on Sunday.
Analysis: Everett acted as an extension of the running game, with quarterback Justin Herbert dumping the ball off a number of times to his veteran tight end. Everett (38 snaps) and Donald Parham (34 snaps) continue to split playing time relatively evenly, but it was the latter who has posed a significant threat in the red zone, catching two short touchdowns Sunday. Expect Everett to continue to be a reliable, albeit unremarkable, fantasy option in a Chargers offense that has leaned heavily on wideouts Keenan Allen and Mike Williams (knee) in the absence of running back Austin Ekeler (ankle). |
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Elijah Dotson Elijah Dotson Plays single snap
Mon, Sep 25, 2023, 10:38 AM
Dotson played a single snap in Sunday's 28-24 win over the Vikings.
Analysis: It appeared as if Dotson had a lock on the backup job behind Joshua Kelley after playing nine snaps in the Week 2 loss to the Titans, but at least for Sunday, it was Isaiah Spiller who saw a healthy amount of complementary snaps. The undrafted rookie free agent hasn't done much despite a solid preseason, one which ultimately helped him make the final 53-man roster. |
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Isaiah Spiller Isaiah Spiller Sees second-string snaps in win
Mon, Sep 25, 2023, 10:34 AM
Spiller carried the ball twice for seven yards in the 28-24 win over the Vikings on Sunday.
Analysis: Spiller wound up playing 16 snaps compared to Elijah Dotson's one, so for at least one game, it appears as if the 2022 fourth-round pick might have moved up the depth chart somewhat. Austin Ekeler (ankle) seems like he could be closer to returning, which would in turn bump Joshua Kelley and everyone else down a peg in terms of playing time. |
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Quentin Johnston Quentin Johnston Limited snaps again
Mon, Sep 25, 2023, 10:30 AM
Johnston caught two of his three targets for 10 yards in Sunday's 28-24 win over the Vikings.
Analysis: For a third consecutive week the 2023 first-round pick played under 25 percent of the total team snaps. It appears as though Johnston will need at least one injury ahead of him on the depth chart to get any sort of sizable workload, but with Mike Williams slated for an MRI on Monday after injuring his knee in Sunday's win, that opportunity could come sooner rather than later. |
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Joshua Palmer Joshua Palmer May be stepping into increased role
Sun, Sep 24, 2023, 8:55 PM
Palmer recorded four receptions on seven targets for 66 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 28-24 win over the Vikings.
Analysis: Palmer saw four targets in the first half, but his involvement was overshadowed by a lost fumble that set up a field goal for the Vikings. That changed with eight minutes left in the game when he caught a ball tipped off the hands of Vikings corner Akayleb Evans for a game-winning 30-yard touchdown catch. Earlier in the game, Mike Wiliams (knee) suffered an injury that could keep him sidelined for further game action, which would in turn shift Palmer up the depth chart along with rookie pass catcher Quentin Johnston. |
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