The Los Angeles Chargers play arguably their most important game of the season in Week 14 against the Chiefs, and their recent injury report suggests they could have a difficult time taking down their hated division rivals. First-year head coach Jim Harbaugh has done a remarkable job of fixing the Chargers, taking a 5-12 team and turning them into a legitimate playoff contender led by quarterback Justin Herbert, rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey, and a physical, opportunistic defense. While Herbert will suit up in Week 14, two other key players might be unable to suit up on Sunday Night Football.
According to the Chargers official injury report, linebacker Denzel Perryman is doubtful to play while wide receiver Ladd McConkey, safety Tony Jefferson, and linebacker Junior Colson are all questionable. Jefferson and Colson are depth players whose absence shouldn’t be too big of a deal, but Perryman and McConkey’s availability could be the difference between winning and losing this contest.
Two Key Players Listed on Chargers Injury Report
Perryman missed the past two games with a groin injury, so the Chargers should know what to do if he has to miss another contest. The veteran linebacker is no superstar, but he’s a fine complementary player who can do his job opposite youngster Daiyan Henley. Perryman’s at his best in coverage, and his absence could mean big things for Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. The future Hall of Famer is not the same unstoppable force he was a few years ago, but he can still make plays against the right defense. With Perryman sidelined, the Chargers must adjust their gameplan to ensure they can cover the middle of the field.
McConkey’s absence, however, could sink the offense. The Chargers have one of the worst collections of pass-catching talent in the NFL and McConkey has been the only player keeping the ship afloat. If he can’t suit up, Los Angeles will have no choice but to turn to underwhelming options like Quentin Johnston, Joshua Palmer, and tight end Will Dissly. The Chiefs aren’t as dominant as their pristine 11-1 record suggests, but they’re still one of the league’s better offenses and the Chargers won’t keep up without their rookie wideout.
For what it’s worth, McConkey sounds like he plans on playing. Speaking to reporters, the second-round pick said “if I can play, I’m gonna play. At the end of the day, I’m gonna do whatever I need to go to get out there.”
Playoff Implications
The Chargers playoff odds took a major hit when they lost to the Baltimore Ravens. While the team will make the postseason, their chances of winning the AFC West are essentially nonexistent. However, this doesn’t mean they have no reason to keep playing as hard as possible. Los Angeles currently holds the fifth seed in the playoff race but are only a half-game up on the 8-5 Ravens and Denver Broncos. If they lose, they could fall to the seventh seed, which could be trouble when the playoffs start.
The fifth seed will face off against the fourth seed in the Wild Card round of the playoffs, which will almost certainly be the Houston Texans. While the team is talented, C.J. Stroud isn’t matching his rookie play and the offense has struggled in recent weeks. The seventh seed, however, will most likely face the Buffalo Bills or Kansas City Chiefs, which is a matchup nobody wants. This game won’t singlehandedly make or break the Chargers season, but it could impact how long they last in the playoffs.
