Palmer (knee) didn't practice Friday and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Panthers.

EDGE Analysis

Palmer downgraded to DNP on Friday after two limited practices, so he may be trending in the wrong direction. If Palmer joins DJ Chark (IR, hip) on the sidelines Sunday, Quentin Johnston and Ladd McConkey would be joined by Derius Davis, Simi Fehoko or Brenden Rice in three-receiver sets.

Palmer (knee) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Panthers.

EDGE Analysis

Palmer was limited in practice throughout the week. He's coming off a disappointing season opener in which Palmer had just two catches for 15 yards before being ejected in the fourth quarter after getting into a fight with Raiders defensive back Jack Jones. On the bright side, Palmer doesn't appear to be facing any supplemental discipline from the team for his ejection.

Palmer (knee) remained limited at practice Thursday.

EDGE Analysis

Palmer was also limited Wednesday, but so far there's nothing to suggest that he's in much danger of missing Sunday's game against the Panthers. That said, the wideout will presumably need to practice fully Friday in order to avoid a Week 2 injury designation.

Palmer (knee) was limited at practice Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

Palmer was listed on the Chargers' Week 1 injury report as a full participant both Thursday and Friday, but this time around he was listed as limited as he continues to manage a knee issue. In this past Sunday's 22-10 win over the Raiders, Palmer logged an 81 percent snap share alongside Ladd McConkey (67 percent) and Quentin Johnston (67 percent) while catching two of his four targets for 15 yards.

Palmer caught two of four targets for 15 yards in Sunday's 22-10 win over the Raiders.

EDGE Analysis

Palmer at least had the aura of a No. 1 target as the Raiders seemed to deliberately take away the fourth-year wide receiver during the few times Justin Herbert dropped back to pass in the first half. Both Ladd McConkey (seven) and Quentin Johnston (five) drew more targets than Palmer, but both had schemed looks scattered in throughout a game that saw the teams combine for nearly 50 rushing attempts. A Week 2 matchup against a Panthers defense that allowed 47 points in the season opener could reveal more information on the target hierarchy in 2024.

Palmer is in position to be the team's leader in targets this season, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

This isn't a shocking statement by Popper, but it underscores the relationship that Palmer and Justin Herbert have compared to the collection of newcomers on the roster. Rookie second-round pick Ladd McConkey profiles as the wideout most likely to challenge Palmer for a plethora of targets, but the fourth-year wideout has been Herbert's fourth-most targeted wideout in his young career, a stat that matters significantly given the Pro Bowl quarterback missed critical time in training camp due to a foot injury.

Palmer is not expected to play in Saturday's preseason opener against the Seahawks, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

The team is likely to keep a number of its clear starters on the sideline to kickoff the preseason. Expect to see plenty of Quentin Johnston and Brenden Rice as the young wide receivers look to continue improving in the exhibition contests.

Palmer has been a regular presence on the first-team offense at training camp, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Palmer, Ladd McConkey and DJ Chark reportedly are dominating WR reps on the starting offense, leaving Quentin Johnston and others to work with the backups. Palmer averaged a career-high 58.1 receiving yards per game last season, including 70.6 ypg from Week 3 onward, but a knee injury and concussion led to seven absences. After some hints of limited participation in the offseason program, Palmer seems to be back at 100 percent for training camp and is regularly catching passes from QB Justin Herbert. There's opportunity for the 2021 third-round pick to enjoy a fourth-year breakout, although he's probably looking at reduced team passing volume relative to prior years now that head coach John Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman are running the show in Los Angeles.

Palmer (knee) got his most reps of the offseason Tuesday, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

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.

EDGE Analysis

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.