Denver Broncos at Los Angeles Chargers

Injuries noted

Denver Broncos: Caleb Lohner (IR-R) — Lohner (lower body) was placed on injured reserve by the Broncos on Sunday with a designation to return, Aric DiLalla of the team's official website reports.; Nick Gargiulo (PUP-R) — Gargiulo (knee) was moved to the reserve/PUP list by the Broncos on Sunday, Aric DiLalla of the team's official site reports.; Michael Deiter (IR) — ir; Matt Henningsen (IR) — ir; Levelle Bailey (IR) — Bailey (leg) reverted to the Broncos' injured-reserve list Friday, Parker Gabriel of The Denver Post reports.; Frank Crum (IR-R) — Crum (undisclosed) was placed on injured reserve with a designation to return by the Broncos on Sunday, Aric DiLalla of the team's official site reports.; Jonah Coleman (IR) — Coleman (ankle) is being placed on injured reserve Saturday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.; Pat Bryant (IR) — Bryant (ankle) was placed on the Broncos' injured reserve Friday.; Riley Moss (Out) — Moss (ribs) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Chargers, Aric DiLalla of the Broncos' official site reports.; Pat Surtain II (Out) — Surtain (ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Chargers, Aric DiLalla of the Broncos' official site reports.

Los Angeles Chargers: Tyler Biadasz (IR) — The Chargers placed Biadasz (knee) on injured reserve Sunday.; Scott Matlock (Questionable) — The Chargers activated Matlock (foot) from injured reserve Saturday, but he's still listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Broncos.; Denzel Perryman (IR) — ir; Branson Taylor (Questionable) — The Chargers activated Taylor (neck) form injured reserve Saturday.; Trevor Penning (IR) — The Chargers placed Penning (concussion) on injured reserve Saturday.; Ladd McConkey (Questionable) — McConkey (foot) isn't expected to play Sunday versus the Broncos, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.; KeAndre Lambert-Smith (IR) — The Chargers placed Lambert-Smith (hamstring) on injured reserve Tuesday.; Trey Pipkins III (IR) — The Chargers placed Pipkins (knee) on injured reserve Saturday.; Derwin James Jr. (Out) — James (hamstring) has been ruled out against the Broncos on Sunday.; David Njoku (IR) — The Chargers placed Njoku (fibula) on injured reserve Wednesday.; Kayode Awosika (Out) — Awosika (lower leg) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Broncos.; Charlie Kolar (Questionable) — Kolar (forearm) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Broncos.; Brenen Thompson (Out) — Thompson (quadriceps) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Broncos.; Rashawn Slater (IR) — The Chargers placed Slater (ankle) on injured reserve Friday.; Trey Lance (IR) — The Chargers placed Lance (groin) on injured reserve Saturday.; Donte Jackson (Out) — Jackson (hamstring) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Broncos.; Joe Alt (Out) — Alt (neck) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Broncos.; Quentin Johnston (Out) — Johnston (chest) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against Denver.; Rodney Shelley (Questionable) — questionable

QUARTERBACK

• Bo Nix is the projected starting quarterback for DEN

  6.07 Y/A

  Through 4 games in 2026, Bo Nix threw for 819 passing yards, completed 60% of his passes and averaged 6.07 yards per attempt. Last season over 17 games he threw for 3931 yards, completed 63.4% and averaged 6.42 yards per attempt, 25-11 touchdowns to interceptions. This season's 5-3 touchdown-to-interception line is 4 games in.

• Justin Herbert is the projected starting quarterback for LAC

  6.86 Y/A

  Through 4 games in 2026, Justin Herbert threw for 816 passing yards, completed 59.7% of his passes and averaged 6.86 yards per attempt. Last season over 16 games he threw for 3727 yards, completed 66.4% and averaged 7.28 yards per attempt, 26-13 touchdowns to interceptions. This season's 4-6 touchdown-to-interception line is 4 games in.

TRENCHES

• LAC: 121.8 rushing yards allowed per game to DEN's 142.8

  21 YPG

  The Chargers allow 121.8 rushing yards a game, Denver 142.8, both over four games. Run defense totals lean on game script, since trailing teams face fewer carries and leading teams face more, and opponents aren't on the sheet. Four games can shift quickly. Denver's softer run numbers are the side to consider if the Chargers stay in a script where they keep running.

PASS RUSH

• DEN: 1.25 sacks taken per game to LAC's 3

  1.75 SACKS

  The Chargers' quarterback goes down three times a game, Denver's barely more than once over 4 games. This one has history behind it: the Chargers took 3.75 a game last season and Denver 1.77. Expect the gap to hold, since it matches a full season of evidence. Pressure on the Chargers' passer is a steady factor in drive-killing third downs and in how much they can push the ball downfield.

• DEN: 5.8 sack yards lost per game to LAC's 18.8

  13 YDS

  DEN is at 5.8 sack yards lost per game over 4 games; LAC is at 18.8 over 4 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 10. Last season DEN was at 9.5 over 17 games and LAC at 21.6 over 17 games.

• LAC: 2.5 sacks recorded per game to DEN's 2

  0.5 SACKS

  DEN is at 2 sacks recorded per game over 4 games; LAC is at 2.5 over 4 games. Those are what each defense has allowed in this season's games through Oct 10.

PACE & SCRIPT

• DEN: 23.5 points allowed per game to LAC's 26.5

  3 PPG

  DEN is at 23.5 points allowed per game over 4 games; LAC is at 26.5 over 4 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 10. Last season DEN was at 18.3 over 17 games and LAC at 20 over 17 games.

TURNOVERS

• DEN: 1.25 turnovers committed per game to LAC's 2.5

  1.25 TO

  The Chargers are giving the ball away twice as often as Denver, 2.5 times a game over 4 games. They were at 1.24 last season, so that rate is the one most likely to come down. Denver at 1.25 is close to its 1 last season. Turnovers swing spreads, and a Chargers team that cleans this up at home looks different than its record of mistakes so far.

• LAC: 1.75 takeaways per game to DEN's 1

  0.75 TO

  The Chargers are forcing 1.75 turnovers a game, Denver 1, both over four games. That gap is modest, and turnovers swing a lot from week to week, so over four games it could flip quickly. It leans toward the Chargers in this game, without enough weight to carry a view by itself.

• DEN: 0.75 interceptions thrown per game to LAC's 1.5

  0.75 INT

  DEN is at 0.75 interceptions thrown per game over 4 games; LAC is at 1.5 over 4 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 10. Last season DEN was at 0.65 over 17 games and LAC at 0.82 over 17 games.

• DEN: 0.5 fumbles lost per game to LAC's 1

  0.5 FUM

  DEN is at 0.5 fumbles lost per game over 4 games; LAC is at 1 over 4 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 10. Last season DEN was at 0.35 over 17 games and LAC at 0.41 over 17 games.

MISMATCH

• DEN: 1.25 turnovers a game to LAC's 2.5

  1.25 VS 2.5

  Denver is turning it over 1.25 times a game and the Chargers 2.5 over 4 games. Last season the Chargers were at 1.24, so their giveaways have doubled in a short sample, while Denver is near last year's 1. The Chargers' number is the one likely to come down. If they clean it up at home, this gap shrinks fast, so judge them on ball security more than the record.

COVERAGE

• LAC: 36.5% third downs allowed to DEN's 47.5%

  10.9 PP

  The Chargers are letting opponents convert 36.5% of third downs, while Denver is allowing 47.5%, both over four games. Denver's number means opponents are extending drives often, and over four games that can come down if the schedule eases. For this game, Chargers drives have a good chance to stay alive, which helps their time of possession and scoring chances.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

• DEN and LAC are even since 2025

  1-1 SERIES

  Each team won at home. The Chargers won 23-20 in Los Angeles, and Denver won 19-3 in January. The home team has won both games, but the second was far more lopsided, with the Chargers held to a field goal. This game is in Los Angeles, where the first meeting was decided by 3.

REPLACEMENT

• Trey Lance (QB) is on injured reserve for LAC

  IR

  The Chargers placed Lance on injured reserve Saturday with a groin injury. As a backup quarterback, his absence mainly thins the depth behind the starter and should not change the plan against Denver.

• Pat Bryant (WR) is on injured reserve for DEN

  IR

  Denver placed Bryant on injured reserve Friday with an ankle injury, so he misses the trip to the Chargers and at least several weeks after. The Broncos' other receivers absorb his targets.

• Rashawn Slater (OT) is on injured reserve for LAC

  IR

  Slater is out against Denver after the Chargers put him on injured reserve Friday with an ankle injury. He plays left tackle, the spot that protects the quarterback's blind side, and injured reserve means he will miss multiple weeks. The sheet does not name his replacement. Penning, a guard, is also on injured reserve, so the Chargers line is short two starters against the Broncos pass rush. Factor that in on sack and quarterback pressure props.

• Trevor Penning (G) is on injured reserve for LAC

  IR

  Penning is out against Denver after the Chargers placed him on injured reserve Saturday with a concussion. He is a guard. Slater, the left tackle, went on injured reserve Friday, so the Chargers line is missing two starters this week. Weaker protection matters for any bet built on the Chargers passing game.

PRACTICE REPORT

• Riley Moss

  Out

  Ribs · Did not practice · Out

• Derwin James Jr.

  Out

  Hamstring · Did not practice · Out

• Kayode Awosika

  Out

  Fibula · Did not practice · Out

• Joe Alt

  Out

  Neck · Did not practice · Out

• Pat Surtain II

  Out

  Ankle · Did not practice · Out

• Quentin Johnston

  Out

  Chest · Limited practice · Out

• Donte Jackson

  Out

  Hamstring · Did not practice · Out

• Brenen Thompson

  Out

  Quadricep · Did not practice · Out

• Scott Matlock

  Questionable

  Foot · Full practice · Questionable

• Rodney Shelley

  Questionable

  Hamstring · Did not practice · Questionable

• Charlie Kolar

  Questionable

  Forearm · Limited practice · Questionable

• Ladd McConkey

  Questionable

  Foot · Did not practice · Questionable

• Branson Taylor

  Questionable

  Neck · Full practice · Questionable

• Tyler Badie

  FP

  Full practice

• Alec Ingold

  FP

  Full practice

• Dalvin Tomlinson

  FP

  Full practice

• Adam Trautman

  FP

  Full practice

• Dondrea Tillman

  FP

  Full practice

• D.J. Jones

  FP

  Full practice

• Khalil Mack

  FP

  Full practice

• Cam Hart

  FP

  Full practice

• Deane Leonard

  FP

  Full practice

• Zach Allen

  FP

  Full practice

SITUATIONAL

• DEN (2-2) at LAC (0-4), a division game

  -19 PT GAP

  Denver is 2-2 but -20 on the year and 0-2 on the road. The Chargers are 0-4, -39 and on a 4-game losing streak, including 0-2 at home. A -39 total over four games is bad without being a blowout pace, so some of that 0-4 is close losses. Neither team has won in the venue it plays in here, which makes this division game less lopsided than the standings look.

• DEN: 46.8 penalty yards per game to LAC's 72.3

  25.5 YDS

  DEN is at 46.8 penalty yards per game over 4 games; LAC is at 72.3 over 4 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 10. Last season DEN was at 67.6 over 17 games and LAC at 46.3 over 17 games.

• DEN: 50% fourth-down conversion rate to LAC's 33.3%

  16.7 PP

  DEN is at 50% fourth-down conversion rate over 4 games; LAC is at 33.3% over 4 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 10. Last season DEN was at 50% over 17 games and LAC at 57.1% over 17 games.

• DEN: 39.6% third-down conversion rate to LAC's 34.6%

  5 PP

  DEN is at 39.6% third-down conversion rate over 4 games; LAC is at 34.6% over 4 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 10. Last season DEN was at 41.2% over 17 games and LAC at 45.8% over 17 games.

STREAK

• LAC has lost 4 straight

  L4

  LAC carries a 4-game losing streak into this one, sitting at 0-4 on the season. They face DEN in DEN @ LAC. Current-2026 standings through 2026-10-10.

TEAM RECORD

• AFC WEST game: DEN 0-1, LAC 0-1 in the division

  DIVISION

  These two share the AFC WEST. DEN is 0-1 against it, LAC is 0-1. Current-2026 standings through 2026-10-10.

AFTER GARY

• DEN -3.5 → -3.5

  NOW +1.11PP

  Gary's number was -3.5; the same book now shows -3.5.