L.A. Chargers having COVID issues shortly before playing K.C. Chiefs

While the K.C. Chiefs and L.A. Chargers are both preparing for other opponents at present, the calendar also tells us that both teams will also play each other in just over a week. In eight days, the AFC West rivals will face off on Thursday Night Football in a game that could easily decide the winner of the AFC West for the 2021 season. Which makes it the worst possible time for a team to have a COVID-19 outbreak.

While the word “outbreak” is a stretch at this point, the news isn’t looking all that great for the Chargers at present. According to NFL reporter Field Yates, the team has placed wide receiver Mike Williams and cornerback Chris Harris, Jr. on the team’s COVID/reserve list at present.

On Tuesday, the Chargers placed another wideout on the COVID/reserve with the news that Keenan Allen also tested positive for the coronavirus.

The Chargers have multiple contributors on the COVID/reserve list right now.

At this point, the timeline for player injuries is not quite clear, but the Chargers will be hurting if they can’t get back their top two wide receivers soon enough. Not only do they host the New York Giants on Sunday afternoon, but they host the Chiefs four days later.

Alongside these COVID/reserve list placements, the team is dealing with myriad other injuries to some of its biggest names. Austin Ekeler has “bumps and bruises” and landed on the team’s injury report although he’s expected to play on Sunday. Joey Bosa had to clear concussion protocols on Sunday but the team still held him out to be safe. That’s an injury to watch going forward. Defensive lineman Justin Jones and Linval Joseph have also missed time recently.

If the Chargers are without either big receiver against the Chiefs, Justin Herbert will have a major hurdle in front of him against a revitalized Chiefs defense that looks much better than it did the first time these teams played back in Week 3. Allen has 86 catches for 929 yards and 4 touchdowns on the season, while Williams has 55 catches for o854 yards and 7 touchdowns.