Ladd McConkey was a key player for the University of Georgia, helping them win two College Football Playoff championships. On Sunday, he showed the Los Angeles Chargers just how versatile he can be, after primarily running shorter routes in his first seven NFL games.
McConkey caught two touchdown passes, including a 60-yard touchdown in the third quarter, becoming the first Chargers rookie receiver in 11 years to achieve a 100-yard receiving game. The Chargers defeated the struggling New Orleans Saints 26-8.
“That’s pretty cool, so hopefully I get another,” said McConkey, who made six catches for 111 yards. “Any time you get in the end zone, it’s a big deal, so just glad I was able to contribute for the guys today.”
McConkey has become one of Justin Herbert’s favorite targets as the Chargers work to adjust without veteran receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, who left during the offseason.
“He’s a complete receiver. To have that short game and those intermediate routes that he’s been so good at, and now you open up some of those go balls that you’ve got to respect,” Herbert said about McConkey. “And for him to be able to line up anywhere — inside, outside. You know, we have a true ballplayer on our hands.”
Herbert finished with 328 total yards (279 passing, 48 rushing) and threw two touchdown passes, helping the Chargers (4-3) recover from a last-second loss to Arizona the previous week.
The Saints (2-6) are on a six-game losing streak for the first time since 2005, putting pressure on coach Dennis Allen, who has an 18-24 record in his third season.
“I think we all understand that it’s a results-oriented business, and we need to play better football,” Allen said.
Alvin Kamara, who recently signed a two-year, $24.5 million contract extension, gained 122 total yards. Chris Olave had eight catches for 107 yards.
Jake Haener took over for an ineffective Spencer Rattler in the third quarter and completed nine out of 17 passes for 122 yards.
Rattler, making his third consecutive start with Derek Carr out due to an oblique injury, was 12 of 24 for 156 yards. The Saints didn’t enter the red zone and only managed one field goal in the nine drives he led.
Carr returned to practice this week and might be back in the lineup next week.
“Obviously we didn’t get any wins, so that’s very unfortunate,” Rattler said. “We want to win. Our goal is to come in here and win, get some momentum going.”
The Saints scored in the first quarter with their first safety since 2020, when Chargers punter JK Scott failed to catch a bad snap, causing the ball to roll out of the back of the end zone. They also scored with two field goals by Blake Grupe.
McConkey, drafted in the second round, had six catches for 111 yards, making him the first Chargers rookie to achieve over 100 yards since Allen had five such games in 2013. He’s the fourth player since the 1970 merger to have 100 yards receiving and two touchdowns.
McConkey’s touchdown in the third quarter was the Chargers’ first second-half touchdown since the fourth quarter against Las Vegas in Week 1.
McConkey caught a pass from Herbert near the right sideline at the Saints’ 35-yard line. He changed direction and avoided a diving tackle attempt by Saints cornerback Alontae Taylor at the 14-yard line before reaching the end zone, increasing the Chargers’ lead to 16-5.
“He found it, tracked it, made an unbelievable catch and then a SportsCenter highlight where he went to score the touchdown and put the ball in the end zone,” coach Jim Harbaugh said. “I mean, it’s what we needed.”
The Chargers scored another touchdown with 3:22 left in the fourth quarter when Herbert scrambled out of the pocket on third-and-7 at the Saints’ 9-yard line and found McConkey in the back left corner of the end zone.
“I think he was back there scrambling a little bit and then rolling. Just gave me a chance,” McConkey said.
