Ladd McConkey Leaves Chargers' Week 1 Loss With Chest Injury
The Los Angeles Chargers lost to the Arizona Cardinals 26-14 as 8.5-point home favorites on Sunday, and the loss was compounded by an injury to their best wide receiver.
Ladd McConkey took a hard shot from Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. over the middle of the field in the third quarter while trying to make a catch, immediately grabbed his back and chest, and walked off under his own power before entering the blue medical tent and then heading to the locker room. He did not return.
Before the exit, McConkey had been the best player on the field for Los Angeles, catching five of his seven targets for 82 yards and a touchdown at 16.4 yards per reception. Without him, the Chargers' offense fell apart.
The remaining Chargers receivers combined for five catches and 97 yards.
Coach Jim Harbaugh had no update on McConkey's injury when asked postgame. "There's much to get better at," Harbaugh said of the loss overall. "It's the start, it's not the start that we wanted."
McConkey had 66 catches for 789 yards in 2025 and new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel had called him potentially set up for his best NFL season. The Chargers host the Raiders in Week 2.
