# Los Angeles Chargers (0-4) Week 5 Preview vs Denver Broncos (2-2): Prediction, Depth Chart, Injuries, Odds

Source page: https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/news/winless-chargers-host-broncos-hunt-for-first-win

> The 0-4 Los Angeles Chargers face the 2-2 Denver Broncos at SoFi Stadium with Denver favored on the road.

By Rhett Zone · Published 2026-10-11 16:23 UTC

_Drafted with AI from our own data and checked by an editor._

The winless [Los Angeles Chargers](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/teams/los-angeles-chargers) open their home gates to a banged-up [Denver Broncos](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/teams/denver-broncos) team, and somebody has to snap a bad run.

## Game details

- When | Sunday, October 11, 2026 at 4:05 PM ET
- Where | SoFi Stadium
- TV | CBS
- Line | Denver Broncos -3.5 | O/U 42 (market view)
- Denver Broncos record | 2-2
- Los Angeles Chargers record | 0-4

## Overview

Kickoff is set for Sunday, October 11, 2026 at 4:05 PM ET inside the dome at SoFi Stadium, broadcast on CBS. The Chargers come in at 0-4 on a four-game losing streak, having been outscored 106-67 through four weeks, with their most recent loss a 23-30 defeat to the Seattle Seahawks. The Broncos sit at 2-2 but arrive on a one-game skid after falling 14-24 to the San Francisco 49ers, with a point differential of 74 for and 94 against.

Denver has flashed some fight this year, beating the Los Angeles Rams 30-26 and the Jacksonville Jaguars 20-13 in back-to-back weeks before the 49ers loss. Los Angeles has not found a win all season, dropping games to the Arizona Cardinals, Las Vegas Raiders, Buffalo Bills and Seattle in succession. The market has Denver as a 3.5-point favorite with the total set at 42.0, and with the Chargers dealing with a long injury list on both lines, Denver holds the clearer path even on the road.

What's at stake for Los Angeles is simple: avoid an 0-5 start. For Denver, it's about stopping the bleeding after a loss to San Francisco and getting back to the form that beat the Rams and Jaguars. The edge here leans Denver, mostly because the Chargers are trying to protect [Justin Herbert](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/justin-herbert) behind a line missing key pieces.

## Key players

Bo Nix is projected for 16.5 DraftKings points and leads a Denver offense that has scored wins against the Rams and Jaguars this season.

Justin Herbert carries a 10.5-point projection for the Chargers as he tries to generate offense behind a patchwork line.

Jaylen Waddle projects for 10.0 points and is one of three starting wide receivers for Denver alongside [Courtland Sutton](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/courtland-sutton) and [Troy Franklin](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/troy-franklin).

Omarion Hampton is projected for 9.0 points and starts in the backfield for Los Angeles alongside [Keaton Mitchell](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/keaton-mitchell).

Ladd McConkey, listed questionable with a foot injury, is projected for 8.0 points and remains a starting receiver if he suits up.

## Keys to the game

Los Angeles needs to protect Justin Herbert given that starting tackle [Joe Alt](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/joe-alt) and guard [Kayode Awosika](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/kayode-awosika) are both out, along with guard [Trevor Penning](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/trevor-penning).

The Chargers have to get something going on the ground from [Omarion Hampton](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/omarion-hampton) and Keaton Mitchell to take pressure off a thin receiving corps missing [Quentin Johnston](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/quentin-johnston).

Los Angeles must find a way to slow [Bo Nix](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/bo-nix) and a Denver passing attack that already has 30-point and 20-point outings this season.

## Fantasy angles

Start Justin Herbert with some hesitation — his 10.5-point projection reflects a tough matchup behind a line down two starters, but he still has to throw a lot facing this Denver defense.

Omarion Hampton is a fine flex play at his 9.0 projection, especially if he's leaned on heavily with the passing game shorthanded.

Ladd McConkey is a game-time watch given his questionable tag with a foot injury; if he's active, his 8.0 projection makes him the top receiving option, but hold off until status clears.

Keaton Mitchell at 6.0 points is touchdown-dependent in a committee backfield and not a reliable fantasy option this week.

Cameron Dicker projects for 6.9 points, but in a game where the Chargers offense has struggled to finish drives, his value hinges on how often Los Angeles stalls in the red zone.

## Prediction

The market lists this one at Denver Broncos 23, Los Angeles Chargers 19, and that number tracks with what's in front of us. Denver has the healthier secondary question marks compared to the sheer volume of Chargers injuries up front, and that gap shows up when Justin Herbert is under pressure all afternoon. Los Angeles keeps it within the field-goal range the spread suggests, but snapping the losing streak against a Denver team that's beaten two playable opponents already this year is a tall order.

## Injury report

- Player | Team | Pos | Status
- Riley Moss | Denver Broncos | CB | Out
- Pat Surtain II | Denver Broncos | CB | Out
- Joe Alt | Los Angeles Chargers | OT | Out
- Kayode Awosika | Los Angeles Chargers | OG | Out
- Quentin Johnston | Los Angeles Chargers | WR | Out
- Charlie Kolar | Los Angeles Chargers | TE | Questionable
- Trey Lance | Los Angeles Chargers | QB | Doubtful
- Scott Matlock | Los Angeles Chargers | FB | Questionable
- Ladd McConkey | Los Angeles Chargers | WR | Questionable
- Trevor Penning | Los Angeles Chargers | OG | Out
- Branson Taylor | Los Angeles Chargers | OG | Questionable
- Brenen Thompson | Los Angeles Chargers | WR | Out

## Depth chart

- Pos | Los Angeles Chargers
- QB | Justin Herbert
- RB | Omarion Hampton, Keaton Mitchell
- WR | Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, Tre' Harris
- TE | Charlie Kolar

## Recent results

- Team | Last games
- Los Angeles Chargers | Wk4 L 23-30 vs Seattle Seahawks, Wk3 L 16-24 vs Buffalo Bills, Wk2 L 14-26 vs Las Vegas Raiders

[**Game page**](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/game/74)

## In this story

- [Denver Broncos at Los Angeles Chargers](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/game/74)
- [Denver Broncos](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/teams/denver-broncos)
- [Los Angeles Chargers](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/teams/los-angeles-chargers)
- [Bo Nix](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/bo-nix)
- [Branson Taylor](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/branson-taylor)
- [Brenen Thompson](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/brenen-thompson)
- [Cameron Dicker](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/cameron-dicker)
- [Charlie Kolar](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/charlie-kolar)
- [Courtland Sutton](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/courtland-sutton)
- [Jaylen Waddle](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/jaylen-waddle)
- [Joe Alt](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/joe-alt)
- [Justin Herbert](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/justin-herbert)
- [Kayode Awosika](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/kayode-awosika)
- [Keaton Mitchell](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/keaton-mitchell)
- [Ladd McConkey](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/ladd-mcconkey)
- [Omarion Hampton](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/omarion-hampton)
- [Pat Surtain II](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/pat-surtain-ii)
- [Quentin Johnston](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/quentin-johnston)
- [Riley Moss](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/riley-moss)
- [Scott Matlock](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/scott-matlock)
- [Tre' Harris](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/tre-harris)
- [Trevor Penning](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/trevor-penning)
- [Trey Lance](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/trey-lance)
- [Troy Franklin](https://profootballnewshub.com/nfl/players/troy-franklin)

*Written by Rhett Zone, an AI analyst, from News Hub Fantasy data (schedule, scores, box scores, injuries and depth charts), and checked against that data before it published automatically. Read how we use AI in our [editorial standards](https://profootballnewshub.com/editorial-standards).*

From Pro Football News Hub. More at https://profootballnewshub.com/llms.txt