Latest news with #LaddMcConkey
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
2025 Fantasy Football Draft: Chargers' Ladd McConkey or Eagles' AJ Brown - who should you pick?
Last season, the Eagles had a record low in passing attempts given their enhanced rushing efforts. Under new offensive coaching staff Jim Harbaugh, the Chargers, on the other hand, adopted a more balanced approach. This leaves fantasy football players questioning as to which wide receiver to pick when it comes down to Chargers' Ladd McConkey or Eagles' AJ Brown. AJ Brown of the Philadelphia Eagles warms up prior to the Cooper DeJean All-Star Charity Softball Game at Principal Park (Getty Images via AFP) Why Ladd McConkey? After finishing three seasons at Georgia, McConkey made the switch to the Chargers as their second selection in the 2024 NFL Draft. Although his release vs physical defenders still needs work, given his need to get stronger, route running and a deep understanding of open field defense act as arrows in his quiver. He caught 119 passes for 1,687 yards and 14 touchdowns across three seasons at Georgia but had to miss six games in 2023 due to back and ankle issues, as reported by Sports Illustrated. As of the last third of July, he is a spot ahead of AJ Brown as the 10th-ranked wide receiver in PPR formats. McConkey currently averages 19.19 fantasy points in PPR formats. Why AJ Brown? Given how the Eagles' receiver got more balls thrown to them during the 2022 season, Brown finished with career-highs in catches (88), receiving yards (1,496), and targets (145) along with 11 touchdowns and 17.0 yards per catch. Following two low games in 2024, Brown had possibly the best seven weeks of his career (9/131, 9/175/2, 6/127, 7/131, 10/137/1, 8/130/2, and 7/66/1) as he averaged 16.0 yards per catch and 25.96 fantasy points in PPR formats during this span. He had to sit out Week 18 last season due to a knee injury and finished fifth in wide receiver scoring (291.60 fantasy points) in PPR formats. He continued playing through the injury over the final two months. By Stuti Gupta
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Chargers rave about wideout McConkey, with Harbaugh saying he's 'uncoverable' 1 on 1
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Wide receiver Ladd McConkey is making such an impression with the Los Angeles Chargers that coach Jim Harbaugh says he's 'uncoverable' one on one and linebacker Daiyan Henley is still arguing about a catch the second-year pro made in workouts a month ago. McConkey is coming off a sensational season in which he set team rookie records with 82 catches and 1,149 yards receiving, while scoring seven touchdowns. Everyone is expecting more from McConkey — except for maybe Henley during their friendly practice rivalry — as he and quarterback Justin Herbert continue to develop the chemistry that has made them one of the NFL's top pass-and-catch duos. Harbaugh, who brought the Chargers to their former hometown for two days of training camp practices this week, said fellow receiver Quentin Johnston and Ladd are 'playing at an elite level.' Then he added about McConkey: "Ladd, he's even better than he was last year. It's not like hyperbole. It's not. He's uncoverable right now by one guy. That's awesome.' McConkey let out a little chuckle when asked about Harbaugh's comment. 'I don't know about that,' McConkey said Wednesday at the University of San Diego, where Harbaugh began his head coaching career in 2004. "Obviously, as receivers, like yeah, we're striving for that. But other guys, they're getting paid on the other side of the ball, too. You're going to win some and lose some. Hopefully I win more than I lose. 'It's obviously a great feeling knowing he has confidence in me,' said McConkey, a second-round draft pick out of Georgia in 2024. "You go out there and make plays, he believes in me, go out and show him what I'm about.' After completing 332 of 504 passes for 3,870 yards and 23 touchdowns last year, Herbert has the most completions (1,945) and yards passing (21,093) by a player in his first five seasons in NFL history. Herbert said McConkey is 'the perfect combination of athleticism and intelligence. The way he understands the game of football and how he sees defenses, I think that's what makes him like that. he's just got a great understanding of how people are going to try to guard him and where the leverage is and just the way to break it. He's done such a great job with the quarterbacks, just being friendly and always being in the right spot, so it's been huge to see.' Offensive coordinator Greg Roman said the Chargers are 'hoping for a long, long fruitful career for Ladd,' and his relationship with Herbert will be a big part of it. 'I think we're seeing that right now. It takes two to tango and those guys getting more time on task together, more chemistry, 'Hey, if you see this, I want you to hook up here and I'll put it on your inside shoulder,' those types of things, those next-level type things," Roman said. The coordinator said there were a few times during the first four games last year where McConkey 'wasn't perfect at all. We had to correct some things, a couple plays in particular. He learned from it and it never happened again. He got that and he moved on and he kept climbing the ladder and you saw that chemistry grow.' McConkey said there's plenty to work on despite his success last year, including running better routes. 'When I go back and watch games, I want to just eat myself up over it because there are so many plays we left out there last year that we've been working on throughout this offseason," he said. "There's so much more to gain and we're going to continue to try and build on that and hopefully it takes off as the season goes.' During workouts last month at the team's base in El Segundo, McConkey did a quick curl route in the end zone. Herbert threw it low and Henley, heading into his third year, went down with the receiver. Harbaugh signaled touchdown, but Henley still disputes that. Henley was asked about a sack during practice on Wednesday and immediately pivoted to last month's disputed pass play. "I watched the playback. I hope you watched the playback. The ball hit the ground. OK, well I've got the tape. You know how you guys are, offense, offense, offense.' Asked about the rivalry with Henley, McConkey said: 'He hasn't come over there for one-on-ones yet, so still waiting on that one. It's all fun and games. Obviously, Daiyan's a heck of a player. but if we line up one on one, I like my chances.' The Chargers played in San Diego for 56 seasons before moving to Los Angeles in 2017 after failing to secure a deal for a new stadium. They pay $1 a year to play at SoFi Stadium, built by Rams owner Stan Kroenke. The Chargers were 11-6 last year before losing at Houston in the wild card round. Tickets for Tuesday's practice were distributed to active-duty military and veterans, and Wednesday's tickets went to season ticket holders. Neither day's crowds came close to filling 6,500-seat Torero Stadium. ___ AP NFL:
Associated Press
6 days ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
Chargers rave about wideout McConkey, with Harbaugh saying he's 'uncoverable' 1 on 1
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Wide receiver Ladd McConkey is making such an impression with the Los Angeles Chargers that coach Jim Harbaugh says he's 'uncoverable' one on one and linebacker Daiyan Henley is still arguing about a catch the second-year pro made in workouts a month ago. McConkey is coming off a sensational season in which he set team rookie records with 82 catches and 1,149 yards receiving, while scoring seven touchdowns. Everyone is expecting more from McConkey — except for maybe Henley during their friendly practice rivalry — as he and quarterback Justin Herbert continue to develop the chemistry that has made them one of the NFL's top pass-and-catch duos. Harbaugh, who brought the Chargers to their former hometown for two days of training camp practices this week, said fellow receiver Quentin Johnston and Ladd are 'playing at an elite level.' Then he added about McConkey: 'Ladd, he's even better than he was last year. It's not like hyperbole. It's not. He's uncoverable right now by one guy. That's awesome.' McConkey let out a little chuckle when asked about Harbaugh's comment. 'I don't know about that,' McConkey said Wednesday at the University of San Diego, where Harbaugh began his head coaching career in 2004. 'Obviously, as receivers, like yeah, we're striving for that. But other guys, they're getting paid on the other side of the ball, too. You're going to win some and lose some. Hopefully I win more than I lose. 'It's obviously a great feeling knowing he has confidence in me,' said McConkey, a second-round draft pick out of Georgia in 2024. 'You go out there and make plays, he believes in me, go out and show him what I'm about.' After completing 332 of 504 passes for 3,870 yards and 23 touchdowns last year, Herbert has the most completions (1,945) and yards passing (21,093) by a player in his first five seasons in NFL history. Herbert said McConkey is 'the perfect combination of athleticism and intelligence. The way he understands the game of football and how he sees defenses, I think that's what makes him like that. he's just got a great understanding of how people are going to try to guard him and where the leverage is and just the way to break it. He's done such a great job with the quarterbacks, just being friendly and always being in the right spot, so it's been huge to see.' Offensive coordinator Greg Roman said the Chargers are 'hoping for a long, long fruitful career for Ladd,' and his relationship with Herbert will be a big part of it. 'I think we're seeing that right now. It takes two to tango and those guys getting more time on task together, more chemistry, 'Hey, if you see this, I want you to hook up here and I'll put it on your inside shoulder,' those types of things, those next-level type things,' Roman said. The coordinator said there were a few times during the first four games last year where McConkey 'wasn't perfect at all. We had to correct some things, a couple plays in particular. He learned from it and it never happened again. He got that and he moved on and he kept climbing the ladder and you saw that chemistry grow.' McConkey said there's plenty to work on despite his success last year, including running better routes. 'When I go back and watch games, I want to just eat myself up over it because there are so many plays we left out there last year that we've been working on throughout this offseason,' he said. 'There's so much more to gain and we're going to continue to try and build on that and hopefully it takes off as the season goes.' During workouts last month at the team's base in El Segundo, McConkey did a quick curl route in the end zone. Herbert threw it low and Henley, heading into his third year, went down with the receiver. Harbaugh signaled touchdown, but Henley still disputes that. Henley was asked about a sack during practice on Wednesday and immediately pivoted to last month's disputed pass play. 'I watched the playback. I hope you watched the playback. The ball hit the ground. OK, well I've got the tape. You know how you guys are, offense, offense, offense.' Asked about the rivalry with Henley, McConkey said: 'He hasn't come over there for one-on-ones yet, so still waiting on that one. It's all fun and games. Obviously, Daiyan's a heck of a player. but if we line up one on one, I like my chances.' The Chargers played in San Diego for 56 seasons before moving to Los Angeles in 2017 after failing to secure a deal for a new stadium. They pay $1 a year to play at SoFi Stadium, built by Rams owner Stan Kroenke. The Chargers were 11-6 last year before losing at Houston in the wild card round. Tickets for Tuesday's practice were distributed to active-duty military and veterans, and Wednesday's tickets went to season ticket holders. Neither day's crowds came close to filling 6,500-seat Torero Stadium. ___ AP NFL:
Al Arabiya
6 days ago
- Sport
- Al Arabiya
Chargers rave about wideout McConkey, with Harbaugh saying he's 'uncoverable' 1 on 1
Wide receiver Ladd McConkey is making such an impression with the Los Angeles Chargers that coach Jim Harbaugh says he's uncoverable one on one, and linebacker Daiyan Henley is still arguing about a catch the second-year pro made in workouts a month ago. McConkey is coming off a sensational season in which he set team rookie records with 82 catches and 1,149 yards receiving while scoring seven touchdowns. Everyone is expecting more from McConkey – except for maybe Henley during their friendly practice rivalry – as he and quarterback Justin Herbert continue to develop the chemistry that has made them one of the NFL's top pass-and-catch duos. Harbaugh, who brought the Chargers to their former hometown for two days of training camp practices this week, said fellow receiver Quentin Johnston and Ladd are playing at an elite level. Then he added about McConkey: 'Ladd, he's even better than he was last year. It's not like hyperbole. It's not. He's uncoverable right now by one guy. That's awesome.' McConkey let out a little chuckle when asked about Harbaugh's comment. 'I don't know about that,' McConkey said Wednesday at the University of San Diego, where Harbaugh began his head coaching career in 2004. 'Obviously as receivers, like yeah, we're striving for that. But other guys, they're getting paid on the other side of the ball, too. You're going to win some and lose some. Hopefully I win more than I lose. It's obviously a great feeling knowing he has confidence in me,' said McConkey, a second-round draft pick out of Georgia in 2024. 'You go out there and make plays, he believes in me, go out and show him what I'm about.' After completing 332 of 504 passes for 3,870 yards and 23 touchdowns last year, Herbert has the most completions (1,945) and yards passing (21,093) by a player in his first five seasons in NFL history. Herbert said McConkey is the perfect combination of athleticism and intelligence. 'The way he understands the game of football and how he sees defenses, I think that's what makes him like that. He's just got a great understanding of how people are going to try to guard him and where the leverage is and just the way to break it. He's done such a great job with the quarterbacks just being friendly and always being in the right spot, so it's been huge to see.' Offensive coordinator Greg Roman said the Chargers are hoping for a long, long fruitful career for Ladd and his relationship with Herbert will be a big part of it. 'I think we're seeing that right now. It takes two to tango, and those guys getting more time on task together, more chemistry – Hey, if you see this, I want you to hook up here and I'll put it on your inside shoulder – those types of things, those next-level type things,' Roman said. The coordinator said there were a few times during the first four games last year where McConkey wasn't perfect at all. 'We had to correct some things, a couple plays in particular. He learned from it and it never happened again. He got that and he moved on, and he kept climbing the ladder, and you saw that chemistry grow.' McConkey said there's plenty to work on despite his success last year, including running better routes. 'When I go back and watch games, I want to just eat myself up over it because there are so many plays we left out there last year that we've been working on throughout this offseason,' he said. 'There's so much more to gain, and we're going to continue to try and build on that, and hopefully it takes off as the season goes.' During workouts last month at the team's base in El Segundo, McConkey did a quick curl route in the end zone. Herbert threw it low, and Henley, heading into his third year, went down with the receiver. Harbaugh signaled touchdown, but Henley still disputes that. Henley was asked about a sack during practice on Wednesday and immediately pivoted to last month's disputed pass play. 'I watched the playback. I hope you watched the playback. The ball hit the ground. OK, well, I've got the tape. You know how you guys are, offense, offense, offense.' Asked about the rivalry with Henley, McConkey said: 'He hasn't come over there for one-on-ones yet, so still waiting on that one. It's all fun and games. Obviously, Daiyan's a heck of a player, but if we line up one on one, I like my chances.' The Chargers played in San Diego for 56 seasons before moving to Los Angeles in 2017 after failing to secure a deal for a new stadium. They pay 1 a year to play at SoFi Stadium built by Rams owner Stan Kroenke. The Chargers were 11-6 last year before losing at Houston in the wild card round. Tickets for Tuesday's practice were distributed to active-duty military and veterans, and Wednesday's tickets went to season ticket holders. Neither day's crowds came close to filling 6,500-seat Torero Stadium.
New York Times
6 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Chargers training camp report, Day 6: Movement in the WR competition
SAN DIEGO — The Los Angeles Chargers' receiver battle is raging on, and Day 6 of training camp featured some rather significant movement — positive and negative — as players jostle for snaps alongside star slot Ladd McConkey. Quentin Johnston looked like a different player through the first five days of camp. He had five touchdowns in those practices. Most notably, his ball-tracking looked vastly improved on throws down the field that came in over his shoulder — something he had struggled with at times in his career. Wednesday's practice, the Chargers' second and final at the University of San Diego, was a step back for Johnston. Advertisement In seven-on-seven drills, Johnston came wide open over the middle on a dig route. The offense faced a third-and-10. Quarterback Justin Herbert hit Johnston in the chest. Johnston dropped the pass. It was reminiscent of his third-down drop in a loss to the Baltimore Ravens last season. These are the types of lapses Johnston absolutely must eradicate from his game. That they are still happening in his third season is concerning. 'Every play is not going to be perfect,' Roman said of the play. 'There's going to be a drop here and there. I asked him what happened, and he gave me the exact right answer from a fundamental standpoint.' Johnston came back later in practice and made two catches from Herbert in 11-on-11. But the confidence he was playing with in earlier practices seemed to have dissipated. He caught a third-down slant short of the marker. Three plays later, he came down with a shallow catch to the right, but he had to pin the ball against his legs to secure it. 'When he's just going out there and being loose, playing natural and just playing his game,' McConkey said, 'there's not many people that have the athletic ability and the quickness and power that Q does.' Jalen Reagor had been playing consistently with the first-team offense as an outside receiver through the first five practices. He did not participate in Wednesday's practice. Reagor appeared to tweak something in his lower half during Tuesday's padded practice. That gave rookie Tre' Harris more opportunities with the first team in 11-on-11. Harris had an up-and-down day. On a fourth-and-2, he came open on an out route to the left sideline. Herbert hit Harris for the conversion. Earlier in practice, though, Harris was one-on-one with cornerback Ja'Sir Taylor on a third-and-3 slant route. Taylor was in tight coverage. Quarterback Taylor Heinicke threw an accurate pass. Harris was not able to come up with the catch, with Taylor challenging the ball. Advertisement It was rookie fifth-round pick KeAndre Lambert-Smith who elevated his stock the most in Wednesday's practice. In seven-on-seven, Lambert-Smith ran a go route down the left sideline against cornerback Deane Leonard. Quarterback Trey Lance's attempt to Lambert-Smith was slightly underthrown. Lambert-Smith turned, located the ball and made an impressive adjustment before high-pointing the catch in front of Leonard. big play dre — Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) July 23, 2025 Later in practice, this time in 11-on-11, Lambert-Smith made another notable adjustment on a deep ball from Lance. On a fourth-and-5, Lambert-Smith ran a go route on cornerback Cam Hart. Lance threw this shot to Lambert-Smith's back shoulder. Lambert-Smith slowed his sprint and rotated his body to make the catch while falling to the turf. Linebacker Daiyan Henley had a sack on this play on a blitz, but the coaches let the play continue. 'He made a couple adjustments today on the ball that you can't coach,' Roman said of Lambert-Smith. Lambert-Smith also had a catch on an out route in seven-on-seven, beating Leonard. Lambert-Smith missed most of the spring with an injury. But he has a really intriguing skill set, including deep-field speed, natural hands and elite body control. 'We didn't have a whole lot of time with him (in the spring),' Roman said. 'But right now, I'm really fired up about his progress.' McConkey is going to be a focal point of coordinator Greg Roman's offense. McConkey's chemistry with Herbert is continuing to blossom in Year 2. McConkey and Herbert have been showcasing a seemingly telepathic connection. McConkey knows when to sit routes down against certain looks, when to manipulate defensive leverages, when to expect the ball from Herbert on a certain shoulder. Advertisement On Tuesday, for example, McConkey was running a crossing route off play action. He slowed his route down as he entered a vacated zone in between linebacker Denzel Perryman and safety Alohi Gilman. Herbert fired to McConkey's inside shoulder, and McConkey was able to make the catch in traffic. 'Those next-level type things,' as Roman said. Coach Jim Harbaugh said this week that McConkey 'is uncoverable right now by one guy.' To get the absolute most out of McConkey, the Chargers need outside receivers who can truly threaten defenses. The opportunity is there for the taking. 'The culture within the wide receiver room is exactly what we're looking for,' Roman said. • Other Chargers who did not practice Wednesday: tackle Rashawn Slater, cornerback Donte Jackson, safety Tony Jefferson, cornerback Benjamin St-Juste, running back Raheim Sanders, receiver Luke Grimm and edge rusher Kylan Guidry. • Slater has not practiced since Friday. The first-team offensive line Wednesday: LT Joe Alt, LG Bradley Bozeman, C Zion Johnson, RG Mekhi Becton, RT Trey Pipkins III. • Johnson and Bozeman have been rotating between left guard and center each day. Johnson has yet to play center in 11-on-11 during a padded practice. Wednesday's practice was unpadded. The Chargers are back in pads Thursday when they return to The Bolt in Los Angeles. Roman said the Chargers will likely disrupt the day-by-day rotation with Bozeman and Johnson to make sure Johnson gets a padded day at center. If they continue on the current rotation, Bozeman would be at center Thursday, while Johnson would be at left guard. Johnson would be back at center for Friday's unpadded practice. Bozeman would be at center for Saturday's padded practice, and Johnson would then get his first padded practice at center on Monday — the Chargers' 10th practice of camp. Advertisement That means Johnson could be at center Thursday, or he could be at center Saturday. • Rookie running back Omarion Hampton was working at kick returner during a special teams period. Hampton had a drop in 11-on-11 drills while working with the first-team offense. He was open on an angle route out of the backfield but could not handle the Herbert pass. • Receiver Brenden Rice also had a drop in seven-on-seven. He had slight separation on cornerback Tarheeb Still on a go route down the right sideline. Herbert dropped his throw into a bucket, but Rice could not make the catch. • Rookie tight end Stevo Klotz had one of the plays of the day on offense. He made a diving catch on a slant route to successfully convert a third-and-3. Heinicke delivered the throw. • Ja'Sir Taylor is having a really solid camp and feels firmly on the 53-man roster at the moment. He had two more forced incompletions in Wednesday's practice, including the third-down coverage on Harris. Later in practice, Taylor was locked on receiver Dez Fitzpatrick down the right sideline in the red zone. Fitzpatrick ran out of room on a back shoulder throw from Heinicke, and the ball deflected out of bounds. • Safety Derwin James Jr. got his hands to a Lance pass on a third-down blitz from the nickel position. James is highly disruptive when he can align in these positions close to the line of scrimmage. Lance tried to get rid of he ball quickly on a throw down the line of scrimmage to Fitzpatrick. James got a great jump at the snap and was in the backfield before Lance released the throw. James deflected it and forced the incompletion. (Photo of KeAndre Lambert-Smith: Kirby Lee / Imagn Images)
