McConkey has been Justin Herbert’s metronome this season, leading the team in targets and garnering around seven targets every week. Unfortunately, he landed hard on his shoulder in Week 11, forcing a visit to the blue medical tent.
In preparation for Week 12, McConkey did not participate in Thursday’s practice, but did get in a limited session on Friday. If he’s unable to go, both Quentin Johnston and Joshua Palmer would move up the totem pole.
How valuable will Palmer be if McConkey is unable to suit up?
Palmer has not received more than five targets in any game this season and has usually ended up with four per contest, as McConkey and Johnston have been one and two in the pecking order.
The Chargers were a ground-and-pound team to start the season, with Herbert throwing for fewer than 28 passes in each of the first four games. Since then, Herbert has exceeded 30 pass attempts in four-of-six games.
Baltimore has one of the most stout run defenses in the league, so the path of least resistance is through the air, especially since the Ravens secondary has been exploited on a weekly basis. Baltimore has allowed the ninth-highest EPA per dropback and the 22 passing touchdowns allowed is the second-most.
While Palmer hasn’t been showered with targets so far this season, he has been fairly efficient when he’s gotten the opportunities. The 0.53 EPA per target is 19th-best in the NFL. McConkey is at 0.56 this season.
In his career, Palmer has exceeded 100 yards receiving four times and had a two-touchdown game against the Chiefs two seasons ago, so he’s not a scrub. It’s just a matter of getting the opportunities. And he should get plenty of those.
This game has a hefty total of 51 with a spread of only 2.5-points in favor of the visiting Ravens, so points will likely be scored, skewing the Chargers even more towards the air.
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