Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey (15) runs with the ball in the second half against the Buffalo Bills at New Highmark Stadium.
Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
The Los Angeles Chargers dropped to 0-5 for the first time in 23 years in losing to the Denver Broncos. And coach Jim Harbaugh plus offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel didn't have star wide receiver Ladd McConkey Sunday. Despite the fact he was healthy.
Harbaugh explained why the team held back McConkey on Monday.
Turns out the head coach thought about playing his wideout. However, Harbaugh explained that his receiver was only available in an emergency scenario.
McConkey injured his foot before week four arrived. But he dealt with one other injury, as McConkey injured his ribs during the week one loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
Quarterback Justin Herbert and the air attack struggled without McConkey in the process. Herbert finished with 14-of-24 passing for 121 yards and tossed just one touchdown. He also got picked off once, with Brandon Jones picking him off during the game.
Tight end Charlie Kolar rose as the leading wideout, but he caught three passes for just 37 receiving yards. Running back Keaton Mitchell joined Kolar in hitting three catches, but produced only 18 yards. Marquez Valdes-Scantling led the wideout room with two catches for 22 yards, while fellow wideout Tre Harris settled for two catches for 16 yards.
Los Angeles even briefly erased a 10-3 deficit at halftime, by outscoring the Broncos 13-0 during the third quarter. But Denver forced the Chargers to fall apart from there, going on a 14-0 fourth quarter run to win the game.
Now the Chargers must avoid the stunning 0-6 start. The Bolts went 1-15 overall in 2000 the last time they started with that kind of mark.