Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs

Injuries noted

Los Angeles Chargers: Tyler Biadasz (IR) — The Chargers placed Biadasz (knee) on injured reserve Sunday.; Denzel Perryman (IR) — Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said Wednesday that Perryman (undisclosed) won't be reinstated from injured reserve ahead of Sunday's game against the Chiefs, Alex Insdorf of BoltBeat.com reports.; Trevor Penning (IR) — The Chargers placed Penning (concussion) on injured reserve Saturday.; KeAndre Lambert-Smith (Questionable) — The Chargers activated Lambert-Smith (hamstring) from injured reserve Saturday, and he is questionable for Sunday's matchup versus Kansas City.; Trey Pipkins III (IR) — The Chargers placed Pipkins (knee) on injured reserve Saturday.; Derwin James Jr. (Out) — James (hamstring) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Chiefs.; David Njoku (IR) — The Chargers placed Njoku (fibula) on injured reserve Wednesday.; Kayode Awosika (Out) — out; Brenen Thompson (Questionable) — Thompson (quadriceps) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Chiefs.; 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 ahead of Sunday's game against the Chiefs.; Joe Alt (Out) — Alt (neck), who has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Chiefs, received favorable news after recently being evaluated by a specialist and is expected to ramp up his activity during the Chargers' Week 7 bye, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.; Rodney Shelley (Doubtful) — Shelley (hamstring) is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against the Chiefs.; Tre' Harris (Out) — Harris (hamstring) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Chiefs.; Evan Svoboda (Out) — The Chargers placed Svoboda (undisclosed) on the practice squad injured list Wednesday.; Jamaree Caldwell (Questionable) — questionable; Daiyan Henley (Questionable) — Henley (knee) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Chiefs.; Dalvin Tomlinson (Questionable) — questionable; Alec Ingold (IR) — The Chargers placed Ingold on injured reserve Thursday due to a shoulder injury.; Bud Dupree (Questionable) — Official injury report, Wk 6: Questionable (Neck); practice: Limited.

Kansas City Chiefs: Omarr Norman-Lott (PUP-R) — Norman-Lott (knee) was moved to the reserve/PUP list by the Chiefs on Sunday.; Ethan Downs (IR) — The Chiefs placed (Downs) knee on injured reserve Tuesday, Matt Derrick of ChiefsDigest.com reports.; John Michael Gyllenborg (IR); Jeff Caldwell (IR) — Caldwell (knee) reverted to the Chiefs' injured reserve list Tuesday, Charles Goldman of AtoZSports.com reports.; Jimmy Holiday (IR) — Holiday (undisclosed) was placed on injured reserve by the Chiefs on Sunday.; Josh Simmons (Out) — Simmons (back) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Chargers.; Matt Waletzko (IR) — Waletzko (undisclosed) reverted from waivers to Kansas City's injured reserve list Friday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.; Cooper McDonald (IR) — The Chiefs placed McDonald (knee) on injured reserve Wednesday.; Rashee Rice (Out) — Rice (hamstring/knee) will not play Sunday against the Chargers, Sam McDowell of The Kansas City Star reports.; Tyquan Thornton (IR) — The Chiefs placed Thornton (ankle) on injured reserve Tuesday.; L'Jarius Sneed (Questionable) — Sneed (knee) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Chargers.

QUARTERBACK

• Patrick Mahomes is the projected starting quarterback for KC

  8.1 Y/A

  Through 4 games in 2026, Patrick Mahomes threw for 1037 passing yards, completed 64.1% of his passes and averaged 8.1 yards per attempt. Last season over 14 games he threw for 3587 yards, completed 62.7% and averaged 7.14 yards per attempt, 22-11 touchdowns to interceptions. This season's 9-2 touchdown-to-interception line is 4 games in.

• Justin Herbert is the projected starting quarterback for LAC

  6.55 Y/A

  Through 5 games in 2026, Justin Herbert threw for 937 passing yards, completed 59.4% of his passes and averaged 6.55 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 5-7 touchdown-to-interception line is 5 games in.

TRENCHES

• KC: 92.8 rushing yards allowed per game to LAC's 118.6

  25.8 YPG

  LAC is at 118.6 rushing yards allowed per game over 5 games; KC is at 92.8 over 4 games. Those are what each defense has allowed in this season's games through Oct 17.

PASS RUSH

• KC: 1.5 sacks taken per game to LAC's 3.4

  1.9 SACKS

  LAC is at 3.4 sacks taken per game over 5 games; KC is at 1.5 over 4 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 17. Last season LAC was at 3.75 over 17 games and KC at 2.94 over 17 games.

• KC: 9.5 sack yards lost per game to LAC's 22.8

  13.3 YDS

  LAC is at 22.8 sack yards lost per game over 5 games; KC is at 9.5 over 4 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 17. Last season LAC was at 21.6 over 17 games and KC at 19.3 over 17 games.

• LAC: 2.2 sacks recorded per game to KC's 1

  1.2 SACKS

  The Chargers are getting 2.2 sacks a game over 5 games, and Kansas City's defense has 1 per game over 4. One fewer game for KC makes their number a little shakier. Without opponent detail, it's unclear how much of that comes from talent versus who they've played. The Chargers rushing the passer at Arrowhead is the matchup to weigh when thinking about how drives stall.

PACE & SCRIPT

• KC: 29.5 points per game to LAC's 16.8

  12.7 PPG

  Kansas City is scoring 29.5 a game over four games after 21.3 last season, while the Chargers have dropped from 21.6 to 16.8. Last year these offenses were nearly identical, so a gap this wide over four and five games is likely to shrink. The Chiefs are home and in form. Team totals are a cleaner way to think about this than assuming the early gap holds.

• KC: 19.3 points allowed per game to LAC's 25.8

  6.6 PPG

  LAC is at 25.8 points allowed per game over 5 games; KC is at 19.3 over 4 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 17. Last season LAC was at 20 over 17 games and KC at 19.3 over 17 games.

TURNOVERS

• KC: 0.5 turnovers committed per game to LAC's 2.6

  2.1 TO

  The Chargers are giving it away 2.6 times a game over five games, double last season's 1.24, while Kansas City is at 0.5, below last year's 0.88. Turnover rates swing wildly in small samples, so expect the Chargers' number to come down. The Chiefs' ball security is closer to their norm. Don't price this game as if the turnover gap will repeat.

• KC: 0 fumbles lost per game to LAC's 1.2

  1.2 FUM

  LAC is at 1.2 fumbles lost per game over 5 games; KC is at 0 over 4 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 17. Last season LAC was at 0.41 over 17 games and KC at 0.18 over 17 games.

• KC: 0.5 interceptions thrown per game to LAC's 1.4

  0.9 INT

  LAC is at 1.4 interceptions thrown per game over 5 games; KC is at 0.5 over 4 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 17. Last season LAC was at 0.82 over 17 games and KC at 0.71 over 17 games.

EXPLOSIVE PLAYS

• KC: 6.58 yards per play to LAC's 4.78

  1.8 Y/P

  Kansas City is gaining 6.58 yards a play over four games, well above last season's 5.05, while the Chargers are at 4.78, down from 5.19. The Chiefs had six plays of 20-plus last game, including Kenneth Walker III's 76-yard run and Patrick Mahomes hitting Tyquan Thornton for 55 and 42. Explosive plays inflate small samples, so expect some regression. The Chiefs' big-play threat is the thing the Chargers' defense has to solve.

RED ZONE

• KC: 4.75 red-zone trips per game to LAC's 2.6

  2.15 TRIPS

  LAC is at 2.6 red-zone trips per game over 5 games; KC is at 4.75 over 4 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 17. Last season LAC was at 3.35 over 17 games and KC at 3.47 over 17 games.

MISMATCH

• KC: 0.5 turnovers a game to LAC's 2.6

  0.5 VS 2.6

  The Chargers have turned it over 2.6 times a game over 5 games; Kansas City has 0.5 over 4. Last season the Chargers were at 1.24, so their giveaways have roughly doubled in a short sample, and that rate is more likely to fall than hold. Kansas City at 0.88 last season has been steady. In this road spot, the Chargers' path depends on protecting the ball, and any game script assuming more short fields for Kansas City relies on a 5-game number.

COVERAGE

• LAC: 193 passing yards allowed per game to KC's 225

  32 YPG

  The Chargers are allowing 193 passing yards a game over five games, the lowest pass-yardage figure in this matchup, while Kansas City gives up 225 over four. The sheet does not show who either team faced, and the Chiefs' smaller sample adds some noise. A stingy Chargers secondary going into Kansas City is the strength-on-strength piece to weigh when thinking about how this game is likely to be played.

• LAC: 31.3% third downs allowed to KC's 37%

  5.8 PP

  LAC is at 31.3% third downs allowed over 5 games; KC is at 37% over 4 games. Those are what each defense has allowed in this season's games through Oct 17.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

• LAC lead the series with KC since 2025

  2-0 SERIES

  The Chargers beat Kansas City twice last season, and both were tight. They won 27-21 at home on Sep 5, then 16-13 in Kansas City on Dec 14. Two close wins by six and three points say the Chargers had the Chiefs' number, but the margins were thin enough that either game could have flipped. This one is back in Kansas City, where the last meeting was decided by a field goal.

REPLACEMENT

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

  IR

  The Chargers put backup quarterback Trey Lance on injured reserve with a groin injury, reported Oct 11. IR keeps him out of Sunday's game at Kansas City. As a backup, his absence changes little unless the starter goes down, in which case the Chargers have one fewer fallback option.

• Tyquan Thornton (WR) is on injured reserve for KC

  IR

  Kansas City placed receiver Tyquan Thornton on injured reserve with an ankle injury, reported Oct 13. IR keeps him out for Sunday against the Chargers. His snaps go to the rest of the Chiefs receivers, so check who moves up the depth chart before looking at Kansas City receiving props.

• Denzel Perryman (LB) is on injured reserve for LAC

  IR

  Jim Harbaugh said Wednesday that linebacker Denzel Perryman will not come off injured reserve for Sunday at Kansas City, reported Oct 15. The injury is undisclosed, and IR means he does not play. The Chargers linebackers already on the field keep his run-stopping work against the Chiefs.

• Alec Ingold (FB) is on injured reserve for LAC

  IR

  The Chargers put fullback Alec Ingold on injured reserve Thursday with a shoulder injury, reported Oct 15. That rules him out for Sunday at Kansas City. A fullback is mostly a lead blocker, so the effect lands on the Chargers run game in short-yardage spots, with a tight end or extra lineman likely filling those snaps.

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

  IR

  Rashawn Slater went on injured reserve with an ankle injury, reported Oct 10, so he misses Sunday at Kansas City. He is a starting left tackle for the Chargers, the man protecting the quarterback's blind side, and that is a real loss up front. With a backup in his spot against the Chiefs pass rush, pressure and sack numbers are where this shows up first.

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

  IR

  The Chargers put guard Trevor Penning on injured reserve with a concussion, reported Oct 11, so he is out for Sunday at Kansas City. Combined with Rashawn Slater also on IR, the Chargers line is missing two players. A thinner offensive line is the context to keep in mind for the Chargers run game and quarterback pressure in this matchup.

PRACTICE REPORT

• Rashee Rice

  Out

  Hamstring, Knee · Did not practice · Out

• Donte Jackson

  Out

  Hamstring · Did not practice · Out

• Josh Simmons

  Out

  Back · Limited practice · Out

• Derwin James Jr.

  Out

  Hamstring · Did not practice · Out

• Joe Alt

  Out

  Neck · Did not practice · Out

• Ladd McConkey

  Out

  Full practice · Out

• Kayode Awosika

  Out

  Fibula · Did not practice · Out

• Tre' Harris

  Out

  Hamstring · Did not practice · Out

• Rodney Shelley

  Doubtful

  Hamstring · Did not practice · Doubtful

• KeAndre Lambert-Smith

  Questionable

  Hamstring · Full practice · Questionable

• Jamaree Caldwell

  Questionable

  Knee · Limited practice · Questionable

• L'Jarius Sneed

  Questionable

  Knee · Limited practice · Questionable

• Brenen Thompson

  Questionable

  Quadricep · Limited practice · Questionable

• Dalvin Tomlinson

  Questionable

  Hamstring · Limited practice · Questionable

• Daiyan Henley

  Questionable

  Knee · Limited practice · Questionable

• Bud Dupree

  Questionable

  Neck, Not injury related - resting player · Limited practice · Questionable

• Quentin Johnston

  FP

  Full practice

• Patrick Mahomes

  FP

  Full practice

• Chamarri Conner

  FP

  Full practice

• Justin Eboigbe

  FP

  Full practice

• Charlie Kolar

  FP

  Full practice

• Ben VanSumeren

  FP

  Full practice

• Peter Woods

  FP

  Full practice

• Elijah Molden

  FP

  Full practice

• Kendall Williamson

  FP

  Full practice

• Khalil Mack

  FP

  Full practice

SITUATIONAL

• KC has 7 more days of rest

  7d vs 14d

  Kansas City is coming off its bye and hosts a Chargers team on a standard seven-day week. The Chiefs get two weeks to rest and scheme for one division opponent, plus they don't have to travel. The rest gap is locked in by the calendar. For a bettor, that is a home team with extra prep against a familiar foe, a spot where early-game execution and health tend to favor the rested side.

• LAC (0-5) at KC (4-0), a division game

  +86 PT GAP

  Kansas City is 4-0 and 2-0 at home with a +41 differential, while the Chargers are 0-5 at -45 and 0-2 on the road. Every split on the sheet points the same way. A five-game losing streak backed by a negative differential is a team playing poorly, not unlucky. Division familiarity is the main thing that can keep a spot this lopsided closer than the numbers say.

STREAK

• LAC has lost 5 straight

  L5

  The Chargers are 0-5 and haven't won a game yet. Five straight losses is a real trend, though the sheet doesn't say how close those games were, and that's the difference between a broken team and an unlucky one. Going to Kansas City is a hard spot, and the price on a winless team in that building usually reflects it, so the value question is about the spread more than the result.

• KC has won 4 straight

  W4

  Kansas City is 4-0, unbeaten through four games. Four games is a short run, and without the opponents on the sheet it's hard to tell how tested this team has been. They host a Chargers team that hasn't won, which is the kind of matchup where a hot favorite gets priced heavily, so the margin matters more than who wins.

TEAM RECORD

• AFC WEST game: LAC 0-2, KC 2-0 in the division

  DIVISION

  Kansas City is 2-0 inside the AFC West and the Chargers are 0-2. Two games each is a small sample, but it lines up with the bigger picture: Kansas City unbeaten, the Chargers winless. The division record adds a little weight to what the overall form already says, and the price will likely reflect both.

AFTER GARY

• KC -7.5 → -7.5

  NO MOVE

  Gary's number was -7.5; the same book now shows -7.5.