The Los Angeles Chargers’ 25–10 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 10 may have come at a cost. Rookie tight end Oronde Gadsden II, one of the team’s most consistent offensive contributors, exited the game with a left knee injury and did not return. The fifth-round pick out of Syracuse was seen heading to the locker room after a collision with Steelers linebacker Payton Wilson, and team officials later confirmed he would undergo an MRI to determine the severity of the issue.
Gadsden entered the matchup ranked fourth on the team in receiving yards and had quickly developed chemistry with Justin Herbert. Through seven games, he’d totaled 32 receptions for 453 yards and two touchdowns, becoming a go-to option in red-zone and third-down situations.
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Concern from Medical Experts
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While the Chargers initially listed Gadsden as “questionable to return,” outside analysis suggested the injury could be more than a simple bruise. Dr. Jesse Morse, a sports medicine physician, broke down the replay and described the incident as “potentially concerning.”
“It was left knee. You can see the knee-to-knee contact at the knee or to the distal quad,” Morse explained. “If this was just a quad bruise then I think Gadsden would have returned, but he didn’t. Therefore, I think this could be potentially concerning — either a patellar dislocation, fracture or a knee sprain.”
Chargers Face Depth Test
Head coach Jim Harbaugh received what sources called a “potentially serious” preliminary assessment following the game. If Gadsden misses time, veterans Will Dissly and Tyler Conklin would step into larger roles — a significant drop-off given Gadsden’s emergence as a versatile threat.
For a Chargers team already managing key injuries and inconsistency on offense, the rookie’s MRI results will shape more than just the tight end rotation — they could determine whether Los Angeles maintains its momentum in a crowded AFC playoff race.
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