Los Angeles Chargers rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey has dealt with multiple injuries in recent weeks. What happened to McConkey, and will he be able to play in Week 14 when the Chargers visit the AFC-leading Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday Night Football? Here’s the latest on the wide receiver’s status.
What Is Ladd McConkey’s Injury?
After a relatively quiet start to his NFL career in Los Angeles, McConkey has been on fire in recent weeks. The Chargers have won five of their last six games, yet McConkey has been dealing with multiple injuries since Week 11.
McConkey initially suffered a shoulder injury during Los Angeles’ victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday Night Football in Week 11. The rookie wideout eventually returned to the game and hauled in six receptions for 123 receiving yards.
The 23-year-old wide receiver played through the shoulder injury for two weeks before suffering a knee injury against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 13. Despite suffering a knee injury, McConkey had nine receptions for 117 receiving yards against the Falcons.
While the Chargers continue to stay alive in the race for the No. 5 seed in the AFC, they’ll need McConkey to be healthy down the final stretch of the regular season.
Is McConkey Playing in Week 14?
Update: Ladd McConkey is inactive against the Kansas City Chiefs due to his shoulder injury.
Chargers WR Ladd McConkey is inactive tonight vs. the Chiefs due to a shoulder injury.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 8, 2024
Following McConkey’s knee injury, Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh was uncertain if the rookie wideout would even practice during the week ahead of Los Angeles’ matchup with the Chiefs. As the week progressed, McConkey returned to the practice field.
The Chargers listed McConkey as a limited participant in practice on the team’s injury report on both Wednesday and Thursday. Los Angeles listed both the shoulder injury and knee injury for McConkey, as the rookie wideout attempts to power through in Week 14.
In Los Angeles’ first matchup against the Chiefs in Week 4, McConkey scored the Chargers’ only touchdown of the game. McConkey hauled in five receptions for 67 yards and the second receiving touchdown of his NFL career.
If the Chargers want to take down the AFC-leading Chiefs on Sunday night and potentially challenge for the division title, they’ll need McConkey on the field in Kansas City.
McConkey’s Fantasy Outlook
Despite battling multiple injuries, McConkey has grown into one of the best wide receivers in fantasy football in recent weeks. McConkey is currently the No. 15 wide receiver in standard scoring leagues this season and remains a must-start player if he is active.
McConkey is even more valuable in full-PPR scoring leagues, as his connection with Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert continues to flourish. The rookie wideout has posted top-20 scoring performances in full-PPR scoring leagues in three consecutive weeks.
If McConkey is unable to play in Week 14, look for both Quentin Johnston and Joshua Palmer to step up for the Chargers, although neither player rivals the fantasy ceiling that McConkey provides when he is on the field for Los Angeles.