Chargers WR Ladd McConkey works through hamstring issue as minicamp continues

Los Angeles is moving forward with its minicamp practices, and quarterback Justin Herbert is throwing during the sessions, but wide receiver Ladd McConkey’s workload is being adjusted as he manages a hamstring injury. Multiple reports from the team’s practices describe McConkey working primarily on the side rather than participating fully in pass-catching work.

At Tuesday’s practice, McConkey was reportedly limited, working separately while the rest of the session continued. Head coach Jim Harbaugh told reporters that McConkey is working through “something,” a general status description that indicates the team is treating the issue as manageable but not fully resolved for minicamp.

McConkey later addressed the media in his own session, with the report stating that he strained his hamstring earlier in the offseason program. That timeline matters, because it suggests the injury is not a sudden development in minicamp, but rather something the team has been managing as it progressed through offseason work.

In practical terms, a hamstring limitation at the receiver position usually affects more than simple conditioning. It can change how a player runs routes, accelerates out of breaks, and plants for quick turns. With Herbert throwing during minicamp, the team still has regular passing reps taking place, but McConkey’s reduced participation shifts where the workload lands in team periods.

Despite the restriction, the central message in the report is optimistic. McConkey is described as expecting to be ready for camp, framing the minicamp limitations as precautionary rather than a sign that his offseason plans are derailed beyond the near term.

For the Chargers, the biggest storyline is continuity. McConkey is part of a group that forms the foundation of the passing game, and even if minicamp is only a slice of the offseason, the team uses it to shape timing and rhythm. A receiver missing full-speed reps can create a small gap that staff will try to close as camp approaches.

What to watch next is how the hamstring responds as the Chargers transition from minicamp to the next stage of preparation. If McConkey ramps up quickly in later practices, it would support the “ready for camp” expectation. If he remains limited into subsequent sessions, it could prompt a more cautious approach to route participation and conditioning progression in early camp.

Either way, the team’s immediate focus is balancing reps with risk management. Hamstring injuries can linger or reappear if a player returns too fast, so the Chargers are likely to prioritize controlled participation while still maintaining the passing environment for Herbert and the rest of the receiver corps.