The Los Angeles Chargers are reshaping their offense after losing both David Njoku and Charlie Kolar to injured reserve following Sunday’s loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.
Head coach Jim Harbaugh said Njoku suffered a fibula injury and Kolar a forearm injury. Both players are headed to injured reserve and must miss at least four games, leaving Oronde Gadsden as the only healthy tight end on the Chargers’ active roster.
The damage extends beyond tight end. Starting left guard Kayode Awosika is also expected to miss time with a fibula injury, while defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson is expected to miss time with a hamstring injury. Los Angeles enters Week 3 at 0-2 and now has to make both schematic and roster adjustments before facing Buffalo.
Njoku and Kolar will miss at least four games
Njoku was carted off during the 26-14 loss to Las Vegas after suffering the fibula injury. Kolar also left the game with a forearm injury and was later seen on the sideline with his arm supported.
Moving both tight ends to injured reserve guarantees they will be unavailable for at least the next four games. That is a significant hit to a position the Chargers had built around multiple experienced options entering the season.
Kolar entered the year at the top of the unofficial depth chart, while Njoku brought veteran receiving experience after joining Los Angeles during the offseason. Their simultaneous absences compress the position group immediately.
Oronde Gadsden becomes the lone active-roster tight end
Gadsden is now the only tight end left on the active roster, putting him in position for a substantially larger role. Harbaugh expressed confidence in Gadsden and also acknowledged that the Chargers are working with the personnel department on potential additions.
That means Los Angeles could elevate a practice-squad tight end, sign an outside veteran or use both approaches depending on availability and how quickly a newcomer can absorb the offense.
The Chargers have already been forced to manage early-season depth issues elsewhere. FSN previously covered the signing of Marquez Valdes-Scantling as Ladd McConkey’s rib injury tested the receiver room, and the Chargers’ Week 2 injury concerns involving Trey Pipkins, Elijah Molden and McConkey.
Awosika and Tomlinson add to the Week 3 depth problem
Harbaugh also said Awosika and Tomlinson will miss time, though neither was immediately announced for injured reserve alongside Njoku and Kolar.
Awosika’s absence affects an offensive line that was already managing injuries. Trevor Penning is expected to take over at left guard, giving the Chargers another lineup change in front of quarterback Justin Herbert.
Tomlinson’s hamstring injury removes an experienced interior defender from a unit that now has to prepare for a Buffalo offense capable of stressing teams both through the air and on the ground.
Los Angeles has little margin for another offensive setback
The Chargers have opened the season with consecutive 26-14 losses, first to Arizona and then to Las Vegas. Losing two tight ends at once does not automatically dictate a complete offensive redesign, but it does reduce the number of personnel packages the coaching staff can use without adding reinforcements.
Two-tight-end formations, heavier protection looks and certain red-zone packages become harder to execute when only one healthy tight end remains on the active roster. That is why the next roster move is likely to matter immediately rather than simply serving as emergency depth.
What comes next for the Chargers
The most immediate questions are who Los Angeles adds at tight end, whether either injured player needs surgery and how long Awosika and Tomlinson will be unavailable.
For now, the minimum timeline is clear for Njoku and Kolar: both will miss at least four games. That forces the Chargers to solve a depth problem before Week 3 while also trying to correct an 0-2 start.