5 Takeaways: Jim Harbaugh Provides Ladd McConkey Injury Update, Turns Page to Week 2

Sep 14, 2026 at 03:02 PM

Editorial Director

Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers were back to work Monday after a season-opening loss to the Cardinals.

Here are five takeaways from Harbaugh's Monday press conference:

1. Plenty to improve on

In recent years, Jim Harbaugh has said he believes the biggest jump a player can make in a season is from Week 1 to Week 2.

The Chargers Head Coach is certainly banking on that being the case after his team opener the 2026 season with a home loss by double digits on Sunday.

"Yeah, that is the case every year, in my opinion," Harbaugh said. "Capitalize on that, do not want to miss out on that opportunity."

Harbaugh, as expected, was asked numerous questions about what went wrong in the Week 1 loss to Arizona.

He mentioned numerous areas but also made an interesting comment that the Chargers "made some preseason-type of mistakes."

Chargers starters did play in two preseason games, getting a series against the 49ers before playing two drives against the Rams.

But given how rusty the Bolts looked at times in all three phases, Harbaugh said Monday he may look into altering that strategy.

"Now in retrospect, wish I would have played our guys a little bit more in the preseason getting those game-like reps," Harbaugh said.

Although the Week 1 loss to the Cardinals was disappointing, Harbaugh did note that there were some positives to build on, including the play speed and effort from his squad.

And with a Week 2 home game against the Raiders looming Sunday, Harbaugh said players and coaches were at The Bolts on Monday focused on getting a win against their AFC West rival.

"Just as I would have expected," Harbaugh said when asked about the Chargers current mindset. "Everybody really looking at their position, their group, and trying to find out exactly what they can do better to help the cause, just as you would expect a group of competitors to be about."

2. Ladd McConkey injury update

Harbaugh on Monday also provided a handful of injury updates.

The Chargers Head Coach said that wide receiver Ladd McConkey sustained a rib injury and is considered day-to-day.

Safety Elijah Molden is also day to-day after sustaining a hamstring injury in Week 1.

Wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith also has a hamstring but his appears to be more severe than Molden's.

Harbaugh was asked if the Chargers could potentially put Lambert-Smith on Injured Reserve.

"I haven't made that decision yet but looks like he's going to miss some time."

3. A look at the defense

At multiple points of Monday's press conference, Harbaugh said there are plays that every single coach or player would want back from Sunday's game.

That also applied to Chargers Defensive Coordinator Chris O'Leary, who was making his debut in that role on Sunday.

"He's got a couple he wishes he would have back," Harbaugh said. "He's going to be coaching up the positive and attacking the places we can improve, exactly the same."

The Chargers allowed nearly 400 yards of offense and 23 first downs against Arizona.

The Bolts also tallied just six hurries against Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett in Week 1, according to Pro Football Focus, which tied for the second-fewest among all defenses.

Brissett, according to PFF, averaged just 2.54 seconds before he released the ball in Week 1, the third-quickest mark of any quarterback.

Harbaugh gave his assessment of the defenses on Monday afternoon.

"The ball was coming out quick. Something to improve on," Harbaugh said. "A lot of good, I thought we did well in the run game stopping the run.

"Play action deep shots we took away well, some of their getting back in phase routes where the ball was coming out quick," Harbaugh added. "We weren't winning the battle enough in that phase. Some good solid things to build on and other things we'll attack to improve, especially some of the precision of the timing."