With David Njoku and Charlie Kolar both on injured reserve, Oronde Gadsden now has an opportunity to prove he can be the Chargers’ TE1. The talent is there, but he’ll need to show he can consistently produce and be a reliable weapon for Justin Herbert.
The Los Angeles Chargers didn’t enter the 2026 season expecting Oronde Gadsden to be their No. 1 tight end. After adding David Njoku in free agency and signing Charlie Kolar, Gadsden was expected to have a role in the offense but was going to have to fight for opportunities.
That has changed very quickly.
After the Chargers placed both Njoku and Kolar on injured reserve following Sunday’s loss to the Raiders, Gadsden is now the only healthy tight end on the active roster. The Chargers also signed Hayden Rucci to the active roster Tuesday to add some depth to the position.
This is exactly the type of opportunity Gadsden needs to take advantage of.
Gadsden had a very promising rookie season in 2025, finishing with 49 receptions for 664 yards and three touchdowns. He showed that he can be a legitimate weapon in the passing game and had a monster seven-catch, 164-yard performance against the Vikings in Week 8.
There was plenty of excitement about what Gadsden could do in Mike McDaniel’s offense entering this season. At 6-foot-5 and 236 pounds, he has the size and athleticism to create matchup problems, especially against linebackers and safeties.
However, Gadsden has not exactly been a major part of the offense through the first two games.
He has four catches for 50 yards and a touchdown on the season. Against the Cardinals, he played a limited role, running only seven routes while Njoku received more opportunities.
Now that is going to have to change.
The Chargers need Gadsden to show that he can handle being the primary tight end, not just be a complementary receiving option. That means becoming more consistent as a blocker, staying on the field in different personnel groupings and proving that Justin Herbert can rely on him when the offense needs a play.
The timing is not ideal. The Chargers are already 0-2 and now have to travel to Buffalo to face a Bills team that is 2-0. They don’t have the luxury of slowly working Gadsden into a larger role.
The good news is that Gadsden has already shown he can produce when given opportunities. Through two games, he has averaged 12.5 yards per reception and has caught a touchdown. Those numbers suggest there is still plenty of potential for him to become a bigger part of this offense.
This could end up being a major turning point in Gadsden’s career.
He wasn’t supposed to be TE1 when the season started, but circumstances have given him the opportunity. Now he needs to prove he can handle it.
If Gadsden can become a reliable target for Herbert while holding his own as a blocker, the Chargers may have a much bigger piece of their offense than they originally thought.
But this is no longer about potential.
It’s time for Gadsden to prove he can be TE1.
