Chargers’ Ladd McConkey vows to improve on record-breaking rookie season

EL SEGUNDO — Chargers fans cheered each of wide receiver Ladd McConkey’s rookie franchise-record 82 catches for 1,149 yards and seven touchdowns during the 2024 season. They marveled at his ability to break into the open, eluding defenders and latching onto Justin Herbert’s passes.

Keenan Allen didn’t catch 82 passes during his rookie season with the Chargers. Allen held the previous record with 71 catches for 1,046 yards and eight touchdowns in the 2013 season. Tight end Antonio Gates didn’t catch that many as a rookie, either, as he started his Hall of Fame career in 2003.

Neither did Lance Alworth as a rookie in 1962, Charlie Joiner in 1969 (with the then-Houston Oilers) or Kellen Winslow in 1979, the other three Chargers wide receivers or tight ends enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Gates will join them next weekend.

While the fans, plus Chargers executives, coaches and players, believed they had witnessed something special from McConkey as he topped all the other greats in franchise history, the man himself had another viewpoint. He said he watched the film of his play last season and cringed.

After all, he believed he could have been so much better. There were little things, subtle mistakes, that he could correct and learn from as the film rolled on and on. Or so he said the other day when he was asked to assess his rookie season, after the Chargers drafted him in the second round in ‘24.

“I mean, there were times last year when I went back and watched games and I just wanted to beat myself up over it because there were so many plays that we left out there (on the field),” McConkey said. “So, there’s so much more to gain and try to continue to build on that and, hopefully, it takes off.”

Was there anything specific that he’d like to share?

“I mean, just routes,” he said. “It depended on whether I had a choice or something and I’d make the wrong decision, breaking in instead of breaking out. You know, I didn’t run out of my break, I didn’t finish or maybe one where a pass was just off my fingertips. Something like that, where if I would have come out of my break a little bit faster or we could have hit some things (for big gains).

“You live and you learn. What are you going to do about it except get better?”

By any measure, McConkey seems to have improved in the early days of training camp, which reached Day 9 on Saturday. At least that was the assessment of Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh, who said the other day, “He’s even better than he was last year. It’s going to sound like hyperbole, but it’s not. He’s uncoverable right now by one guy. That’s awesome.”

So, it’s possible both things could be true. McConkey could continue his film study and correct his minor flaws while also continuing to be Herbert’s top target and the Chargers’ most lethal offensive weapon as they prepare for the start of the 2025 season on Sept. 5 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

EXTRA POINTS

Zion Johnson finally got his turn at center while wearing pads during the Chargers’ third padded practice. Bradley Bozeman shifted from center to left guard for Friday’s practice as the Chargers’ center rotation continued. It hasn’t been determined yet if they will play Thursday in the Hall of Fame Game. …

Running back Najee Harris attended practice for the third consecutive day but watched from the sidelines. It remains to be determined when he might join his teammates for his first training camp practice after suffering a superficial eye injury during a fireworks accident July 4 in his hometown of Antioch. …

Wide receiver Derius Davis caught three touchdown passes during team drills, joining McConkey and Quentin Johnston on what appeared to be the first offensive unit. Davis has retained his role as a punt returner, although he was joined by McConkey, Jaret Patterson and Nyheim Miller-Hines. …

Place kicker Cameron Dicker was successful on field goal attempts of 30, 34, 41 and 48 yards, but misfired from 37 and 45 yards during special teams drills. Dicker’s kick from 37 yards struck the right goal post and bounced away. His miss from 45 yards sailed wide left in a strong afternoon sea breeze.