The Chargers took a step forward with their first win of the season on Sunday, but the offense suffered a major setback in the process.
Standout wide receiver Mike Williams left the contest against the Vikings in the third quarter after catching a screen pass, and reportedly will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury.
Williams has caught 19 passes for 249 yards with a touchdown this season, ranking second on the team in catches and yardage behind only Keenan Allen, who has 32 catches for 402 yards. Williams is a mismatch opportunity for the Chargers on offense, standing 6-4, 218 pounds. He has caught at least 43 passes in all but his rookie season and has amassed at least 895 receiving yards in three of his past four seasons.
The Chargers will now be tested with their wide receiver depth. Though Allen remains the top target, the team will now rely more on Joshua Palmer and 2023 first-round pick Quentin Johnston to make up for the absence of Williams.
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Here's what you need to know about Williams' injury.
Mike Williams injury update
Williams was injured late in the third quarter after he made an 11-yard reception on a screen pass. He struggled to walk off the field, and was ultimately carted to the locker room.
According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Williams will be undergoing an MRI on his left knee Monday to determine the severity of his knee injury, but there was concern that Williams' injury will cost him the remainder of the 2023 campaign.
"The fear is that Mike Williams did suffer a significant, potentially season-ending knee injury. No one will confirm until after the MRI, but certainly there is real fear here that he could be lost for the season," Rapoport said on "Good Morning Football."
Rapoport and other reporters later cited sources saying the MRI showed a torn ACL, which will end Williams' season.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Williams should be healthy in time for training camp next summer.
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Chargers WR depth chart
- Keenan Allen
- Mike Williams
- Joshua Palmer
- Quentin Johnston
- Derius Davis
The Chargers still have a true No. 1 receiver in Allen, who went off for 18 catches and 215 receiving yards on Sunday in the win over the Vikings. But the depth takes a considerable hit after Allen and Williams.
Palmer stepped up in 2022 to post career-bests with 72 catches and 769 yards as the team's primary slot receiver. Through the first three games, he has eight catches for 83 yards with a touchdown.
Johnston is the big unknown for the Chargers. Los Angeles selected him in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft out of TCU, and he has the potential to be a similar mismatch to Williams in the offense. He stands 6-4, 215 pounds and was a weapon for the Horned Frogs en route to a stunning national championship game run in 2022, catching 60 passes for 1,069 yards and six touchdowns. Through his first three NFL games, Johnston has five catches for 26 yards in limited action.
