The Los Angeles Chargers are adding veteran wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling to their practice squad, giving the offense another experienced option while Ladd McConkey works through the rib injury he suffered in the season opener.
The move was reported Tuesday by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and followed a same-day workout for Valdes-Scantling. It is best read as depth insurance rather than proof that McConkey will miss Week 2: head coach Jim Harbaugh described McConkey as day-to-day after further evaluation of the injury.
Why the Chargers moved quickly at wide receiver
McConkey left Los Angeles’ 26-14 Week 1 loss to Arizona after taking a hit over the middle in the third quarter. Even without finishing the game, he led the Chargers with 82 receiving yards and scored one of their two touchdowns, underscoring how central he is to the passing game.
Reuters reported Monday that McConkey was undergoing testing on the rib injury and that Harbaugh considered him day-to-day. The Chargers have not ruled him out for Sunday’s AFC West matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders, but his availability remains one of the most important offensive questions of the week.
Los Angeles has already adjusted the bottom of the receiver room. The club promoted Gary Jennings to the active roster after rookie KeAndre Lambert-Smith went to injured reserve with a hamstring issue, and Valdes-Scantling now adds another veteran option on the practice squad.
What Marquez Valdes-Scantling brings
Valdes-Scantling, 31, entered the league as a fifth-round pick of the Green Bay Packers in 2018 and later became a field-stretching role player for Kansas City, where he was part of back-to-back Super Bowl championship teams. He has bounced between several teams more recently, including Buffalo, New Orleans, San Francisco, Pittsburgh and Dallas.
NFL Trade Rumors noted that Valdes-Scantling appeared in five games for Pittsburgh in 2025, finishing with 10 catches for 80 yards and a touchdown. His value has generally come from size, vertical speed and experience in complementary roles rather than from handling a high-volume target share.
That makes the practice-squad assignment logical. If McConkey can play, the Chargers do not need to force Valdes-Scantling into a major role immediately. If McConkey is limited or unavailable, however, Los Angeles now has another experienced receiver who can help expand the game-day options behind Quentin Johnston, Tre’ Harris and the rest of the active group.
McConkey’s status matters more than the signing itself
The Chargers’ passing game looked different after McConkey exited against Arizona, and his combination of separation, route flexibility and reliability gives Justin Herbert a piece that is difficult to replace one-for-one. Valdes-Scantling is not a direct substitute for that skill set.
The more important takeaway is that Los Angeles is building contingency plans early in the week. The team can evaluate McConkey through practice while giving Valdes-Scantling time to learn terminology and work with the offense. That creates flexibility without forcing a premature decision on McConkey’s Week 2 status.
Los Angeles hosts the Raiders on Sunday. One related matchup variable is already shifting on the other side: FSN previously reported that Raiders tight end Brock Bowers underwent a meniscus procedure that affected his early-season availability.
What to watch next
The next meaningful update will be McConkey’s practice participation and how the Chargers describe his workload as the week progresses. If he practices normally, Valdes-Scantling can remain developmental depth. If McConkey is held out or limited, the veteran signing becomes more relevant to the Week 2 game plan.
For now, the Chargers have protected themselves against uncertainty without making a dramatic roster bet. The transaction gives them another experienced body while they wait for the health picture around their top receiver to become clearer.
Sources
- NFL Trade Rumors: Chargers signing Marquez Valdes-Scantling to the practice squad (September 15, 2026)
- Bolts From The Blue: Chargers add Valdes-Scantling (September 15, 2026)
- Reuters: Ladd McConkey day-to-day after rib injury (September 14, 2026)