Greg Roman says “Iike Ladd against anybody” when asked about Chargers WR matching up with Eagles’ WR Cooper DeJean
The Eagles and Chargers are set for an intriguing Monday night showdown, and the biggest matchup to watch will be between Philadelphia’s second-year cornerback Cooper DeJean and the Chargers’ second-year wide receiver Ladd McConkey. McConkey was selected by the Los Angeles Chargers 34th overall with the pick acquired from a trade with the New England Patriots.
The 23-year-old has already emerged as Justin Herbert’s top target, and his short-to-intermediate role puts a 100-plus catch season in play in 2025. In his rookie season, McConkey led the team in receptions (82) and receiving yards (1,149), while ranking second in touchdown catches (seven). The 82 catches and 1,149 yards were rookie records, while his seven touchdown grabs are the fourth-most in a season in team history by a rookie.
In the Wild Card Round of the playoffs, McConkey had nine receptions for 197 yards and a touchdown in the 32–12 loss to the Texans. He set an NFL record for most receiving yards by a rookie in a single postseason game.
Now McConkey gets his first matchup with Cooper DeJean, and his offensive coordinator likes the wide receiver over “anyone in a one-on-one” situation.
Last season, in the team’s Week 11 win over Cincinnati, McConkey recorded a career-best 123 yards on six receptions (20.5 avg.). It was the seventh-most receiving yards in a single game by a Chargers rookie ever and the most by a Bolts rookie in a game since 2013. Then, in Week 13, McConkey hauled in 117 receiving yards, his third 100-yard performance of the season. 105 of those yards came in the first half, the most ever by a Chargers rookie in a single first half. McConkey’s three 100-yard receiving games tied for the second-most by a rookie in team history
The Georgia product moved the chains or scored on 63.4 percent of his receptions in 2024, the best rate among rookieswith at least 70 catches.
This season, McConkey has 58 receptions for 683 yards (11.8 avg) and five touchdowns.
