Chargers To Sign WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling

Star wide receiver Ladd McConkey (rib) and fifth-round rookie KeAndre Lambert-Smith (hamstring) both went down in Sunday’s loss to the Cardinals. The former is considered day-to-day, while the latter was placed on injured reserve on Tuesday. Derius Davis is also day-to-day with an undisclosed injury, according to ESPN’s Kris Rhim.

Los Angeles already promoted Gary Jennings from their practice squad to the active roster to fill some of their Week 2 snaps. Valdes-Scantling will now have three practices to get up to speed in Mike McDaniel’s offense and establish a role for a potential practice squad elevation for the Chargers’ upcoming matchup with the Raiders. The 31-year-old has some recent experience in a similar system after spending part of the 2025 season with Kyle Shanahan’s 49ers. He has also played for three other teams in the last two years, giving him a reputation of a receiver-for-hire whose deep threat abilities have a place in any offense.

But Valdes-Scantling’s productivity dropped significantly last year. Low volume is a natural result of appearing in just 10 games – five each in San Francisco and Pittsburgh – but his 8.6 yards per reception and 4.1 yards per target were both the worst marks in his career by significant margins. He spent this past offseason with the Cowboys but was beat out for a 53-man roster spot by undrafted rookie Camden Brown.

His 2024 stint in New Orleans is far more encouraging. Across eight games, Valdes-Scantling caught 17 of his 35 targets for 385 yards and four touchdowns. If not for a much slower start to the season in Buffalo (two catches on nine targets for 26 yards), his 22.6 yards per reception and 11.0 yards per target would have ranked first and sixth in the league, respectively. Those numbers were on par with his career-best 2020 season.

The Chargers will be hoping they can get that version of Valdes-Scantling as soon as possible. Their receiving room sans-McConkey will be led by 2023 first-round pick Quentin Johnston and 2025 second-round pick Tre Harris. Both played well last year, but the departure of Keenan Allen already left plenty of targets to fill. If McConkey is out, McDaniel may turn to his deep tight end room – Charlie Kolar, David Njoku, and Oronde Gadsden – and use more heavy-personnel packages in Week 2.