EL SEGUNDO — David Njoku is out, sidelined by a knee injury that prompted the Chargers to place him on injured reserve Tuesday, forcing him to sit out for the next four games. Charlie Kolar is out, too, avoiding IR when surgery on Monday revealed his forearm injury was less serious than originally feared.
Read more Orange County scores and player stats for Friday, Sept. 25
Njoku and Kolar were hurt during the Chargers’ 26-14 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday at SoFi Stadium, leaving the tight end position more than a little thin for their game Sunday against the Buffalo Bills. The Chargers will turn to Oronde Gadsden to fill the void at a key position.
General Manager Joe Hortiz and Coach Jim Harbaugh needed better blocking and more production from the Chargers’ tight ends after middling blocking and production during their two seasons together. So, Hortiz signed Njoku and Kolar during the offseason to team with Gadsden.
The rotation was working well until the newcomers were injured Sunday. Njoku had a team co-leading five catches in the season-opening loss to the Arizona Cardinals, and Kolar had three catches in the Chargers’ Week 2 loss to the Raiders. Gadsden was a fine third option.
“I’m excited for ‘OG,’ his opportunities, finding different grooves in the offense to get a playmaker the ball and have him be impactful in the run game,” Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel said, referring to Gadsden by his initials. “Certainly, with injuries in his position room, that always gives you more opportunities. As far as the way we’re going to play, I’m not going to contribute to the Bills’ defensive game plan, so we’ll play with 10 (players).”
McDaniel was joking about playing one brick shy of the usual 11-man load.
In fact, the Chargers will be without their two best blocking tight ends in Njoku and Kolar. Gadsden, the Chargers’ fifth-round draft pick out of Syracuse in 2025, has proved to be a better receiver and playmaker than a blocker in his 17 games over two NFL seasons
Gadsden has four catches for 50 yards and one touchdown in two games so far. His touchdown catch on Sunday was one of two TD passes quarterback Justin Herbert has tossed this season, a well-executed play that gave the Chargers an all-too-brief 14-10 lead over the Raiders.
Read more Alexander: Another championship, sort of, for Los Angeles
Catching passes is only part of the equation, though. The Chargers want and need Gadsden to be a better blocker in order to round out his game, adding an equally important element Sunday and beyond in the absence of the more experienced and accomplished players in Njoku and Kolar.
“I mean, it’s time on task and technique,” Harbaugh said when asked how Gadsden, a former wide receiver in college who moved into the tight end position for his junior and senior seasons, might improve as a blocker. “Football is a technique game. Fundamentals. Techniques.”
INJURY REPORT
The Chargers’ final injury report for Sunday’s game was lengthy and diverse, starting with six players who were ruled out and two others who were listed as questionable to play. For starters, Trevor Penning will replace left guard Kayode Awosika, who has a leg injury.
In addition to Kolar and Awosika, safety Elijah Molden (hamstring), offensive lineman Trey Pipkins III (knee), wide receiver Brenen Thompson (quadriceps) and defensive lineman Dalvin Tomlinson (hamstring) are out. Backup quarterback Trey Lance (groin) and cornerback Rodney Shelley (hamstring) are questionable.
Molden and linebacker Denzel Perryman, who was placed on injured reserve to start the season because of an undisclosed injury, performed a series of sprints on the sideline while their teammates practiced before leaving for Buffalo. They each wore weighted vests to make the workout more difficult.
McCONKEY UPDATE
Wide receiver Ladd McConkey, Herbert’s co-favorite target in the season opener, said he was sound and would play his customary number of snaps against the Bills after he was limited last week against the Raiders. He suffered an injured rib and sat out the fourth quarter against the Cardinals.
Read more Angels’ Zach Neto reflects on a season in which he wasn’t himself early