Chargers WR Keenan Allen, on COVID-19 reserve list, won’t play vs. Giants

COSTA MESA — The Chargers volition beryllium without their prima wide receiver Sunday against the New York Giants astatine SoFi Stadium.

Keenan Allen, who has tested affirmative for COVID-19, was ruled retired Friday by Chargers manager Brandon Staley.

Allen volition stay connected the COVID-19 reserve list, but wide receiver Mike Williams and cornerback Chris Harris Jr. are connected way to permission the database Saturday and beryllium activated earlier crippled time if they proceed to trial negative.

“As agelong arsenic time goes OK, they should beryllium bully for the game,” Staley said astir Williams and Harris.

Staley besides ruled retired backup halfway Scott Quessenberry, who was placed connected the COVID-19 reserve database Thursday.

Williams and Harris were required to quarantine for 5 days aft being deemed adjacent contacts of Allen, who tested affirmative Monday.

Allen’s lack volition make opportunities for Jalen Guyton and Josh Palmer, young wide receivers who’ve been competing for snaps this season.

Guyton has held the Chargers’ No. 3 wide receiver presumption the past 2 seasons due to the fact that of his speed, but was struggling to produce. That led to Palmer, drafted successful the 3rd circular by the Chargers successful April, receiving his archetypal vocation commencement past week against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Seeing Palmer get the commencement mightiness person motivated Guyton, who had his champion crippled of the play with 4 catches for 90 yards and his archetypal touchdown of the year.

Guyton’s champion play was wrestling the shot distant from Bengals information Jessie Bates III successful the extremity portion to implicit a 44-yard touchdown catch. Guyton saw lone 4 targets from backmost Justin Herbert, but helium made them number and had a pivotal 33-yard completion successful the 4th fourth that led to Austin Ekeler’s 1-yard rushing touchdown to widen the pb to 38-22.

Guyton helped his origin past week, but Staley wasn’t pleased with Guyton extending the shot portion falling during the 33-yard completion. He mislaid the football, but was ruled down to debar the fumble.

“I deliberation erstwhile opportunities person travel his way, for the astir part, he’s taken vantage of them,” Chargers violative coordinator Joe Lombardi said. “I deliberation we person to support knowing that he’s a feline that tin get deep. We person a feline that tin propulsion it to him, truthful to support giving them those opportunities is important.”

Palmer had an awesome grooming camp, but determination haven’t been galore opportunities for him due to the fact that Allen, Williams, Ekeler and choky extremity Jared Cook get the bulk of Herbert’s targets.

Palmer is simply a carnal receiver who’s susceptible of making plays downfield due to the fact that of his size, but helium doesn’t person the velocity of Guyton. Palmer volition apt capable Allen’s relation due to the fact that helium plays amended person to the enactment of scrimmage than Guyton.

Now the Chargers volition request Palmer and Guyton to measurement up against the Giants.

“I deliberation it’ll beryllium a fig of people,” Lombardi said Thursday astir filling Allen’s void. “I’m definite that Josh Palmer volition get much reps if Keenan is not capable to marque it backmost successful time. Jalen volition beryllium successful determination a small spot more. We’ll support incorporating the choky ends successful there. We’ll spot aft that. You can’t regenerate Keenan if he’s not here, but we bash person capable firepower, I consciousness like, successful our accomplishment presumption country that we tin upwind the storm.”