<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/texans-news-kamari-lassiter-full-circle-chargers-ladd-mcconkey');   ga('set', 'title', 'Texans’ Kamari Lassiter talks ‘full circle’ moment with Chargers’ Ladd McConkey');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Kamari-Lassiter-talks-full-circle-moment-with-Chargers-Ladd-McConkey.jpg"></figure><h1>Texans’ Kamari Lassiter talks ‘full circle’ moment with Chargers’ Ladd McConkey</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-01-08T16:23:42-08:00">January 8th, 4:23pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-01-08T16:23:42-08:00">January 8th, 4:23pm</time><address><a>Troy Finnegan</a>Troy Finnegan is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder in 2023 with a degree in journalism and minors in communications and sports media, as well as a critical sports studies certificate. He has had a passion for sports his entire life, and enjoys covering and writing about all sports.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Houston Texans</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The NFL playoffs get underway on Saturday when the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/chargers-news-justin-herbert-bizzare-jim-harbaugh-anecdote-texans-game">Houston Texans take on the Los Angeles Chargers</a> in the first game of the wild card round. The Texans have been limping into the playoffs and playing some of their worst football lately, while the Chargers have improved drastically in their first season under Jim Harbaugh.</p><p>Like many teams around the league, both the Chargers and Texans are boosted by some top contributors out of Georgia, which has become one of the biggest NFL factories in college football since Kirby Smart took over as the head coach. Two of the best from the Bulldogs will be going head to head on Saturday when Texans cornerback Kamari Lassiter and Chargers wide receiver Ladd McConkey square off.</p><p>Before the marquee matchup, Lassiter <a href="https://x.com/AaronWilson_NFL/status/1877113870780637233" rel="noopener">talked about the journey</a> that he and McConkey have taken to get to this point, via Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Texans?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Texans</a> rookie corner Kamari Lassiter on competing in playoff game against <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chargers?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Chargers</a> rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey, his 'good friend' and former <a href="https://twitter.com/GeorgiaFootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GeorgiaFootball</a> teammate 'Everything is coming full circle' <a href="https://twitter.com/KPRC2?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KPRC2</a> <a href="https://t.co/xm66m9bZ0F">pic.twitter.com/xm66m9bZ0F</a></p><p>— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/AaronWilson_NFL/status/1877113870780637233?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>“Ladd is a great person,” Lassiter said, per Wilson. “I got nothing but good things to say. That’s my brother. We go way back, since 2021 and even whenever we train together. … Ladd is one of my good friends, but he’s an even better football player. He came up from nothing, really. He was a walk-on, paved his own way, started on scout team and got drafted second round. So, that speaks for itself.”</p><p>“Everything is coming full circle,” Lassiter later added. “Just excited to see him at this level and see myself at this level. That’s something we dreamed of.”</p><h2><b>Kamari Lassiter and Ladd McConkey will help decide Texans-Chargers</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/CJ-Stroud-2.jpg"><figcaption>© Denny Simmons / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Not only are Kamari Lassiter and Ladd McConkey two key contributors for their respective teams, but the two rookies will play a huge role in deciding who comes out on top in Saturday’s wild card battle.</p><p>Lassiter has played much of this season <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/texans-news-derek-stingley-breaks-down-interceptions-tua-tagovailoa">in the shadow of Derek Stingley Jr.</a>, who has a strong case to be a First Team All-Pro at cornerback this season. However, Lassiter has been a big part of why the Texans have had one of the best defenses in the NFL this season. Even as the offense has struggled the defense has carried them through the schedule.</p><p>On the other side, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/chargers-news-ladd-mcconkey-sets-multiple-nfl-rookie-records-patriots-blowout">McConkey has been a revelation for the Chargers offense</a> in a year where rookies have made a huge impact all over the league on that side of the ball. He is clearly already the No. 1 option for Justin Herbert in the passing game and is effective working from any position on the field at all three levels of the passing game.</p><p>McConkey has just about everything you want in a slot receiver. He destroys man coverage, he has reliable hands, he can make plays after the catch and he is already someone that Herbert clearly trusts.</p><p>The two former Georgia football stars will be two of the most important players on the field on Saturday, and they will go a long way in deciding who advances to the divisional round of the playoffs.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Texans’ Kamari Lassiter talks ‘full circle’ moment with Chargers’ Ladd McConkey

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/chargers-news-even-patriots-cb-jonathan-jones-impressed-by-ladd-mcconkey');   ga('set', 'title', 'Even Patriots CB Jonathan Jones is impressed by Chargers rookie Ladd McConkey');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Chargers-news-Even-Patriots-CB-Jonathan-Jones-is-impressed-by-Ladd-McConkey.jpg"></figure><h1>Even Patriots CB Jonathan Jones is impressed by Chargers rookie Ladd McConkey</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-29T08:26:37-08:00">December 29th, 8:26am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-29T08:26:37-08:00">December 29th, 8:26am</time><address><a>Ben Strauss</a>Ben Strauss is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He is a die-hard NFL fan who cheers for the Detroit Lions. He has previously written fantasy football content for IDPGuys and ImportantNonsense.com.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Chargers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Los Angeles Chargers look like a completely new team <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/chargers-news-jim-harbaugh-hired-head-coach-michigan">under the leadership of Jim Harbaugh</a>. LA is 10-6 after getting a huge win against New England on Saturday, which <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/chargers-news-jim-harbaugh-talks-clinching-playoff-spot-first-season-la">earned them a place in the postseason</a>. The Chargers won this game thanks in large part to a great game from rookie Ladd McConkey. He played so well that he even received praise from the other team.</p><p>Patriots cornerback Jonathan Jones had a hard time guarding McConkey all afternoon. He <a href="https://www.patriots.com/news/new-england-patriots-postgame-quotes-12-28-x8243" rel="noopener">heaped praise the rookie receiver</a> for his great performance on Saturday.</p><p>“They use him kind of like Los Angeles does with their guys, with their motion and setting picks. Every play, you’re fighting through picks, fighting through motion, so that’s something they do a good job of,” Jones said about McConkey after the game on Saturday. “We knew that was going to be something they did, they did a very, very good job of, like I said, setting picks, getting the timing down. I think on the first third down that they missed, him [Herbert] having to force it out early kind of led to that one being incomplete. But they did a good job setting a lot of screens, depending on how we were trying to align in man coverage.”</p><p>McConkey hauled in eight receptions for 94 yards and two touchdowns against the Patriots.</p><p>He also earned a number of Chargers franchise records for a rookie.<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/chargers-news-ladd-mcconkey-sets-multiple-nfl-rookie-records-patriots-blowout"> McConkey set a franchise rookie receptions record</a>, raising it to 77 receptions on the season. He also became the third rookie in franchise history to have over 1,000 receiving yards during his first season.</p><p>McConkey looks like a hit as a second-round rookie.</p><h2><b>Jim Harbaugh opens up on Chargers clinching playoffs during his first season in LA</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Chargers-HC-Jim-Harbaugh.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh has led his team to the playoffs in his first season as head coach.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/chargers-news-jim-harbaugh-talks-clinching-playoff-spot-first-season-la">Harbaugh reflected on this impressive achievement</a> after beating the Patriots on Saturday.</p><p>“With humble hearts, we move on to the next game. Just so proud of the team. All those that made it happen. The players, the coaches. I mean, there was so much great play. I mean, our offense, our offense, great. Defense, great. I’m proud of our captains. Justin Herbert played a near-flawless game. Derwin James reached five and a half sacks, career high, but he does it every single game. Rashawn Slater and Brad Bozeman, I thought that was the best offensive line play we’ve had the entire season. The run block and the pass protection was so good, so good across the board. Khalil Mack, he’s led us the entire season, and he had a great game,” Harbaugh told reporters after the game.</p><p>The future is certainly bright for the Chargers, especially as they continue their rebuild and get their salary cap under control.</p><p>Next up for the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/los-angeles-chargers/schedule/upcoming">Chargers is a Week 18 matchup against the Raiders</a>. Then they are on to the playoffs.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Even Patriots CB Jonathan Jones is impressed by Chargers rookie Ladd McConkey

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/chargers-news-ladd-mcconkey-sets-multiple-nfl-rookie-records-patriots-blowout');   ga('set', 'title', 'Ladd McConkey sets multiple Chargers rookie records in Patriots blowout');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Chargers-news-Ladd-McConkey-sets-multiple-NFL-rookie-records-in-Patriots-blowout.jpg"></figure><h1>Ladd McConkey sets multiple Chargers rookie records in Patriots blowout</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-29T06:36:09-08:00">December 29th, 6:36am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-29T06:36:09-08:00">December 29th, 6:36am</time><address><a>Ben Strauss</a>Ben Strauss is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He is a die-hard NFL fan who cheers for the Detroit Lions. He has previously written fantasy football content for IDPGuys and ImportantNonsense.com.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Chargers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Los Angeles Chargers have been one of the most pleasant surprises of the 2024 NFL season. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl-news-chargers-huge-win-patriots-impacts-afc-playoff-race">Los Angeles is 10-6 after getting a huge win against the Patriots</a> on Saturday. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/chargers-news-jim-harbaugh-talks-clinching-playoff-spot-first-season-la">Chargers have completely changed thanks to new head coach Jim Harbaugh</a>, with the team immediately becoming more competitive. One reason for their recent success is their budding superstar wide receiver.</p><p>Chargers rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey <a href="https://x.com/NFL/status/1873097249963819400" rel="noopener">set multiple rookie records</a> on Saturday. He became the third Chargers rookie to have over 1,000 receiving yards during his first year in the NFL. He surpassed Keenan Allen’s 2013 season and John Jefferson’s 1978 season.</p><p>McConkey also hauled in his 72nd reception of the season during the second quarter. That secured him a Chargers rookie record for receptions.</p><p>That’s not all. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/chargers-ladd-mcconkey-makes-rookie-history-not-seen-since-2014">McConkey also tied Odell Beckham Jr.’s record</a> of consecutive games with 50+ receiving yards by a rookie with five. If he can exceed 50 receiving yards next week, he will set a new NFL rookie record.</p><p>The emergence of Ladd McConkey as a dangerous weapon is huge for the future of the Chargers. McConkey looks like he’ll become Justin Herbert’s new security blanket, as the two will have multiple seasons to form a tight bond.</p><p>The Chargers clinched a playoff berth with this win over the Patriots. It is fair to say that the future is bright in Los Angeles.</p><h2><b>Chargers RB JK Dobbins receives praise for making ‘big’ impact in return</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Los-Angeles-Chargers-RB-J.K.-Dobbins.jpg"><figcaption>Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Ladd McConkey was not the only Chargers player who made a splash on Saturday.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/chargers-news-jim-harbaugh-justin-herbert-celebrate-jk-dobbins-making-big-impact-return">Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh praised Dobbins for making an impact</a> in his return to the field.</p><p>“Big. Really big. And all the backs. I mean, Hassan was making big plays for us. Kimani had big runs. But it was great. The backs, the way the backs are playing right now, very rarely are they getting less – they’re never getting less than what the play is blocked for, and they’re getting more than what the play is blocked for,” Harbaugh told reporters after the game on Saturday.</p><p>Dobbins played for the first time since November. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/chargers-news-jk-dobbins-injury-return">Chargers placed him on injured reserve after suffering a knee injury in Week 12</a>.</p><p>“Some big first down pickups in the run game as well,” Harbaugh continued. “JK had a big one on third down. Hassan had a big one on third down. I think maybe JK had another or Kimani got one as well. Yeah, love the way our backs are running and holding on to the football. They’ve done a great job. Kyle McDonald has done a tremendous job with ball security. So, yeah, just keep tightening up, find out – there’s things that we can improve, and we’ll go about attacking those as well.”</p><p>The Chargers will need to continue getting strong production from their running back if they want to make some noise in the playoffs.</p><p>Next up for the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/los-angeles-chargers/schedule/upcoming">Chargers is a Week 18 matchup against the Raiders</a>.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Ladd McConkey sets multiple Chargers rookie records in Patriots blowout

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/49ers-news-social-media-blasts-ricky-pearsall-ladd-mcconkey');   ga('set', 'title', 'Social media blasts 49ers for drafting Ricky Pearsall over Ladd McConkey');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/49ers-news-Fans-blast-John-Lynch-on-social-media-for-drafting-Ricky-Pearsall-over-Ladd-McConkey.jpg"></figure><h1>Social media blasts 49ers for drafting Ricky Pearsall over Ladd McConkey</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-28T17:28:44-08:00">December 28th, 5:28pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-28T17:28:44-08:00">December 28th, 5:28pm</time><address><a>Dakota Zientek</a>Dakota Zientek graduated from the University of Iowa in 2020 and has been writing about the NFL ever since. As a die-hard NFL fan, Dakota's fandom rides with the Chicago Bears through thick and thin -- regardless of how much pain it has caused his heart throughout the years. One day, he believes he will celebrate the Bears winning a Super Bowl. Maybe even... a few?</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Chargers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>During the 2024 NFL Draft, the San Francisco 49ers sent fans into a frenzy after using the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/meet-49ers-2024-nfl-draft-class-grades-all-6-picks">31st pick on Florida receiver Ricky Pearsall</a> over Ladd McConkey. While fans had strong opinions at the time, social media went into a frenzy once again after the Los Angeles Chargers receiver Ladd McConkey— who was selected after Pearsall— had another strong performance in Week 17.</p><p>Although both were drafted in the same year, it’s been a completely different story for each receiver.</p><p><b>Ladd McConkey:</b> 15 games, 77 receptions, 1,054 yards, 7 TDs<br><b>Ricky Pearsall:</b> 9 games, 17 receptions, 190 yards, 1 TD</p><p>Now, Pearsall didn’t have the most ideal offseason, following the incident that left him with a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/49ers-news-ricky-pearsall-shot-during-scary-robbery-incident">gunshot wound just weeks before the season</a> began.</p><p>However, with both receivers having such polar opposite rookie seasons, social media was having a field day after <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/chargers-news-ladd-mcconkey-brilliant-rookie-year-better-franchise-record">McConkey’s two-touchdown performance</a> against the New England Patriots.</p><h2><b>Social media trolls 49ers over Ricky Pearsall-Ladd McConkey draft-night debacle</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Ladd-McConkey_74e0af.jpg"><figcaption>Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Considering how their stat sheets stack up throughout their rookie seasons, social media hasn’t let the 49ers forget their decision-making in the 2024 NFL Draft, selecting Pearsall three picks earlier.</p><p>And with social media knowing which buttons to press, especially among sports fans, they didn’t hold back on roasting the 49ers.</p><p>One of the top posts on the topic was from a user named Rich Keltz, who took the time to remind NFL fans how <a href="https://x.com/RichKeltz/status/1873083051745714400" rel="noopener">each rookie receiver is progressing</a> through their first season in the league.</p><p>“So Jim Harbaugh in year 1 has his Rookie McConkey looking like a Seasoned Vet,” Keltz wrote. “Meanwhile [Kyle Shanahan] is instilling the most complex formations to see if Pearsall can line up correctly.”</p><p>Another user by the name of Ian Hartitz commented on Pearsall, <a href="https://x.com/Ihartitz/status/1864002557246394851" rel="noopener">making a good point</a> on his lack of usage given the 49ers’ laundry list of injuries on offense.</p><p>“Ricky Pearsall hasn’t caught a pass in three straight games despite, you know, the 49ers being without their No. 1 WR,” Hartitz wrote.</p><p>Lastly, a user by the name of Paul Patterson <a href="https://x.com/paulpattersonff/status/1870499592795820084" rel="noopener">added another receiver to the mix</a>, getting the Carolina Panthers involved, too.</p><p>“I almost forgot Xavier Legette and Ricky Pearsall were drafted ahead of Ladd McConkey,” Patterson wrote. “Lol.”</p><p>Now, that was far from the only post criticizing the 49ers, as fans nationwide logged into their favorite social media app and blasted off their best posts to show how badly San Francisco botched their 31st pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Kyle Shanahan took Ricky Pearsall over this man 😂😂</p><p>Stop drafting Florida pass catchers <a href="https://t.co/KvY0vDBl55">https://t.co/KvY0vDBl55</a></p><p>— Baxter Street Boys (@baxstboys) <a href="https://twitter.com/baxstboys/status/1873101644109648320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 28, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Weekly reminder that the 49ers took Pearsall before Ladd Mcconkey 🤣🤡🚮 <a href="https://t.co/A78ZqBbVw9">pic.twitter.com/A78ZqBbVw9</a></p><p>— OHTANI BETTS (@PickensPicks) <a href="https://twitter.com/PickensPicks/status/1873096066494865778?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 28, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="zxx"><a href="https://t.co/AEid493jym">https://t.co/AEid493jym</a> <a href="https://t.co/Cz2UMhUipl">pic.twitter.com/Cz2UMhUipl</a></p><p>— Robert Beal Fan Club (@GregoryFan5) <a href="https://twitter.com/GregoryFan5/status/1818018517251420376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 29, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>And while nothing can change the fact that the 49ers passed on McConkey for Pearsall, they can hopefully learn from their choices in the 2024 NFL Draft.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Social media blasts 49ers for drafting Ricky Pearsall over Ladd McConkey

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/chargers-ladd-mcconkey-makes-rookie-history-not-seen-since-2014');   ga('set', 'title', 'Chargers’ Ladd McConkey makes rookie history not seen since 2014');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Ladd-McConkey-makes-rookie-history-not-seen-since-2014.png"><figcaption>12/28/24</figcaption></figure><h1>Chargers’ Ladd McConkey makes rookie history not seen since 2014</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-28T16:49:38-08:00">December 28th, 4:49pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-28T16:49:38-08:00">December 28th, 4:49pm</time><address><a>Steve Silverman</a>Steve Silverman has been covering the NFL for more than 35 years, and his writing has appeared in ESPN Magazine, Bleacher Report, CBS Sports, Pro Football Weekly, and Forbes.com. He has written 10 books, including "Who's Better, Who's Best in the NFL." He has won multiple awards from the Pro Football Writers of America.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Los Angeles Chargers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl-news-chargers-huge-win-patriots-impacts-afc-playoff-race">Los Angeles Chargers have accomplished</a> a key goal in head coach Jim Harbaugh’s first year with the team. They are returning to the playoffs after beating the New England Patriots 40-7. Rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey and quarterback Justin Herbert once again played key roles for the Chargers in the victory that improved the team’s record to 10-6.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Ladd McConkey’s stellar season continues for the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chargers?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Chargers</a>, tying Odell Beckham Jr. for the most consecutive games by a rookie with 50+ yards receiving. <a href="https://t.co/9RR8L1E5pp">pic.twitter.com/9RR8L1E5pp</a></p><p>— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) <a href="https://twitter.com/Schultz_Report/status/1873100963114029339?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 28, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>McConkey was the leading receiver in the game for the Chargers and he caught 8 passes for 94 yards and 2 touchdowns. The game marked the 9th consecutive time that McConkey had 50-plus receiving yards and allowed him to <a href="https://twitter.com/Schultz_Report/status/1873100963114029339">tie Odell Beckham</a> for the most consecutive games with 50 yards or more by a rookie.</p><p>McConkey also became the third Chargers rookie receiver to exceed the 1,000-yard mark in team history. He has 77 catches for 1,054 yards with 7 touchdowns, and the second-round draft pick from Georgia has been the go-to receiver for Herbert this season.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/chargers-news-justin-herbert-peyton-manning-record-week-17-patriots">The Chargers quarterback</a> was brilliant as he torched the New England secondary. He completed 26 of 38 passes of 281 yards with 3 TDs and no interceptions. His other scoring pass went to Derius Davis.</p><p>Herbert became the third quarterback in NFL history with at least 3,000 yards and 20 TD passes in each of his first five years. Hall of Famer Peyton Manning and Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson are the other quarterbacks to reach that level.</p><h2><b>Chargers celebrate playoff spot in the locker room</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Ladd-McConkey-has-had-quite-a-bit-to-celebrate-this-season.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Harbaugh was in a joyous mood in the locker room after the game. He hugged <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/gametracker/recap/NFL_20241228_LAC@NE/">Los Angeles general manager Joe Hortiz</a> and told him that he loved him, and Hortiz expressed the same emotion back to the coach.</p><p>Harbaugh had led the University of Michigan to the national championship last year. He decided to return to the NFL for his second head coaching stint. It was clearly a major challenge to accept the job with the Chargers, since they were a 5-12 team last year.</p><p>In addition to McConkey and Herbert, the Chargers got a key contribution from running back J.K. Dobbins. He carried the ball 19 times for 76 yards and he scored a touchdown.</p><p>The score indicates that the Chargers were dominant throughout the game. They had possession of the ball for 40:34 compared to New England’s 19:26 and they had a 428-181 yardage advantage.</p><p>The Chargers also were sensational on third- and fourth-down conversions. Los Angeles converted 10 0f 17 third-down attempts and they were also successful on both of their fourth-down conversions.</p><p>The Patriots were successful on just 2 of 10 third-down plays and failed on 3 fourth-down conversions.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Ladd McConkey

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Social media blasts 49ers for drafting Ricky Pearsall over Ladd McConkey

Chargers’ Ladd McConkey makes rookie history not seen since 2014

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