Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston Cleared to Play Week 6 vs. Chiefs

Ladd McConkey and Quentin Johnston are both off the injury report and set to play Sunday against the Chiefs, according to ProFootballTalk (NBC Sports). Both receivers missed last week's loss to the Broncos — McConkey with a foot injury, Johnston with a chest injury — making this a clean bill of health heading into Week 6.

The good news stops there for LA's offense. Per the same report, offensive tackle Joe Alt (neck) and guard Kayode Awosika (fibula) are both ruled out, meaning the Chargers' offensive line will be shorthanded. That's worth noting when projecting ceiling plays — protection issues can suppress volume even when skill-position players are healthy.

Ladd McConkey

Start him. McConkey has posted 12 receptions for 183 yards and a touchdown across four games this season, making him the clear top target in this offense. He missed Week 5, so he's coming back fresh into a divisional matchup. The offensive line concerns are real, but a quarterback under pressure tends to get the ball out quickly to his safety valve — which McConkey typically is. He's a confident start in PPR (point-per-reception) formats.

Quentin Johnston

Johnston returns with seven receptions for 108 yards in four games this season — a secondary role behind McConkey, but a real one. His return does eat into any target share that floated up the depth chart during his absence last week. If you were streaming a Chargers receiver in Johnston's spot expecting a vacancy, that door is now closed. Johnston himself is a low-upside flex option in deeper leagues, nothing more.

The connected angle here: McConkey's return helps Johnston too, in a counterintuitive way. Defenses can't single-focus on one Chargers wideout when both are active. But with receiver Tre Harris also ruled out and the offensive line depleted, the Chargers offense has real structural issues beyond the receiver room.