Oronde Gadsden

Chargers TE Oronde Gadsden managed just 1 catch for 27 yards on two tagets in Sunday's win over the Raiders. He ranked just fifth on the team in targets and receptions, trailing the top four WRs.

Chargers QB Justin Herbert missed a portion of the team's second drive after injuring his left ring finger late in the first drive. He returned partway through the second drive. On 1st-and-10, from the Raiders' 29-yard line, Herbert found Gadsden wide open on a seam route and let it rip. The agile tight end went up, secured the pass and was immediately brought down at the Raiders' two-yard line. So close. Herbert went back to him on the Chargers' fourth drive, 10 yards down the field on 2nd-and-16. Gadsden had the pass in his hands, but Raiders LB Devin White laid a hard hit, making Gadsden unable to secure it, resulting in an incompletion. Gadsden is once again a TE1 against the Eagles in Week 14.

Herbert returned partway through the Chargers' second drive. He quickly linked up with WR Keenan Allen and TE Oronde Gadsden II for double-digit yardage gains, but ultimately threw an interception to CB Kyu Blu Kelly from the Raiders' two-yard line. Replays, post-injury, show Herbert bracing his left ring finger as he jogged to the locker room. The finger is now buddy-taped to his middle finger. He is also wearing a glove on his left hand, seemingly packed with padding on the inside. Receiving the snap under center appears to be difficult. The Chargers may have to run plays from the shotgun from here on out.

If you throw out his injury-shortened Week 10 against the Steelers, this was Gadsden's first quiet box score since Oct. 5. Of course, he was second on the Chargers in both targets and receiving yards. It just didn't mean much in a game where a beleaguered Justin Herbert was limited to 81 yards on 18 attempts. The good news is Gadsden's quad injury already appeared to be a thing of the past. With the Bolts headed on bye for Week 12, Gadsden can be trusted as a TE1 for their Week 13 return against the Raiders.

Chargers TE Oronde Gadsden (knee) put in a full week of practice and is off the final injury report. He s ready to roll for Sunday s plus matchup vs. Jacksonville s 31st-ranked TE defense.