Palmer (knee) got his most reps of the offseason Tuesday, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports. Palmer averaged a career-high 58.1 receiving yards per game last season, but he missed Weeks 9-14 with a knee sprain and then suffered another knee injury in the season finale. After spending part of the offseason rehabbing, Palmer has resumed practicing with teammates and might be the safest bet to start in a new-look Chargers offense under coordinator Greg Roman. The team moved on from WRs Keenan Allen and Mike Williams (knee) this offseason, later bringing in second-round pick Ladd McConkey and veteran DJ Chark. There's a breakout opportunity for Palmer in the fourth and final season of his rookie contract, if he can combine the volume he saw in 2022 (107 targets) with the big-play ability he flashed last year (15.3 yards per catch, career-high 11.2 aDOT). On the other hand, he's never been targeted on more than 18.1 percent of his routes in a season, even though Williams and Allen combined for only 39 appearances (out of a possible 68) the past two seasons.
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Palmer (knee) got his most reps of the offseason Tuesday, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports. Palmer averaged a career-high 58.1 receiving yards per game last season, but he missed Weeks 9-14 with a knee sprain and then suffered another knee injury in the season finale. After spending part of the offseason rehabbing, Palmer has resumed practicing with teammates and might be the safest bet to start in a new-look Chargers offense under coordinator Greg Roman. The team moved on from WRs Keenan Allen and Mike Williams (knee) this offseason, later bringing in second-round pick Ladd McConkey and veteran DJ Chark. There's a breakout opportunity for Palmer in the fourth and final season of his rookie contract, if he can combine the volume he saw in 2022 (107 targets) with the big-play ability he flashed last year (15.3 yards per catch, career-high 11.2 aDOT). On the other hand, he's never been targeted on more than 18.1 percent of his routes in a season, even though Williams and Allen combined for only 39 appearances (out of a possible 68) the past two seasons.
Palmer (knee) and Quentin Johnston are the top wide receivers left on the Chargers after the team released Mike Williams and traded Keenan Allen. The other part of the equation is that the Chargers own the fifth overall pick in a draft with three elite WR prospects. That doesn't necessarily mean they'll end up with Marvin Harrison, Malik Nabers or Rome Odunze, but it'll certainly be a common prediction in mock drafts over the next six weeks. Palmer averaged a career-high 58.1 receiving yards per game in 2023, his third NFL season, albeit while missing six games with a knee injury and a seventh with a concussion. He then hurt his knee in the regular-season finale, but there hasn't been any follow up suggesting it was a serious injury. Palmer now enters the final year of his rookie contract under a new head coach (Jim Harbaugh) and offensive coordinator (Greg Roman), with those hirings and the team's offseason moves hinting at a more run-oriented offense in 2023. That could still work out well for Palmer in fantasy terms given the likelihood of reduced competition for targets relative to his first three seasons.
Palmer had already been ruled out in advance of Monday's game against the Jets, but his move to IR ensures that he'll miss at least three additional contests beyond that. The Chargers brought back another receiver in Jalen Guyton (knee) from the PUP list in a corresponding move, but rookie first-round pick Quentin Johnston will be the wideout most likely to benefit from Palmer's absence in terms of getting more snaps and drawing more targets. Palmer will be eligible to return from IR beginning with the Chargers' Week 13 matchup with New England on Dec. 3.
Palmer had his right knee looked at in the blue medical tent after liming off the field in the first quarter but managed to return in the second quarter after getting the knee taped up. An injury to the same knee had limited his practice participation heading into Sunday's game, so Palmer's playing at less than full health but will try to tough it out.
Palmer missed practice Wednesday and Thursday due to the injury but managed to suit up Sunday after logging a limited session Friday. He caught two passes for 18 yards but stayed down after his second catch. Palmer eventually limped off the field and to the blue medical tent for further evaluation, but an official injury designation has yet to be provided by the team.
Palmer missed practice Wednesday and Thursday, but after his return to a limited session Friday he was listed as questionable heading into the weekend. With Palmer's availability against Chicago confirmed, the wideout figures to remain a key cog in the Chargers' Week 8 passing game alongside PPR stalwart Keenan Allen in the absence of any in-game setbacks or limitations, with Quentin Johnston and Derius Davis also candidates to mix in. In his team's 31-17 loss to the Chiefs last weekend, Palmer caught five of his seven targets for a season-high 133 yards.