Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey has been ruled out of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs. The wideout has been dealing with plenty of injuries since the start of the season.
Ladd McConkey has been ruled out due to a concussion suffered after he made a catch. Now, the Chargers are going to finish the game without their best receiver on the roster.
McConkey has dealt mainly with rib injuries throughout the season. However, he’s been banged up pretty much everywhere. Now, a head injury, which is always worrisome. The Chargers are 0-5 facing the 4-0 Chiefs.
When will Ladd McConkey be back?
The median time for an NFL player to return from a concussion is 9 days, though individual recovery times vary widely from just a few days to several weeks. About 25% to 38% of players return in time for their team’s next game (within 7 days).
Many other players miss multiple weeks or games depending on symptom severity and medical clearance. Hence, it will depend on the severity of the concussion to see how many games, if any, McConkey misses.
The NFL 5-step protocol
The NFL has no fixed timetable but it does require players to clear a strict, step-by-step return-to-participation process monitored by team medical staff and an Independent Neurological Consultant (INC):
- Symptom-limited activity: Rest and limited physical/cognitive exertion.
- Aerobic exercise: Supervised stationary cycling or treadmill work (no resistance training).
- Football-specific exercise: Non-contact drills and strength training for up to 30 minutes.
- Club-based non-contact drills: Throwing, catching, and positional drills with the team (no contact).
- Full football clearance: Full participation in practice after receiving clearance from both the team physician and the INC.
Key takeaways
- Ladd McConkey was ruled out against the Chiefs after suffering a concussion.
- The Chargers are 0-5 facing the 4-0 Kansas City Chiefs in Week 6.
- The median time to return from an NFL concussion is 9 days.
