The Los Angeles Chargers announced that wide receiver Keenan Allen tested positive for COVID, placing him on the COVID-19 reserve list.
Allen is vaccinated, so he could return to the Chargers if he remains asymptomatic and can produce two negative COVID tests within a 24-hour period. If Allen can’t play on Sunday against the New York Giants, expect rookie wideout Josh Palmer to fill in.
Last season, Allen missed the final game of 2020 when he tested positive for COVID and he missed out on reaching the 1,000-yard receiving mark for a fourth-straight season and the fifth time in his career.
In 12 games this season, Allen caught 86 passes for 929 yards and four touchdowns. He averages 10.8 yards per catch.
Allen caught only five passes for 34 yards in a big win for the Bolts against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, but two of those receptions were touchdown catches. He came into the game with only two scores on the year and doubled his output.
Second TD of the day for Keenan Allen ðŸ˜@NFL | #BoltUp pic.twitter.com/dMiVab10Lp
— FanSided (@FanSided) December 5, 2021
On Deck: Giants, Chiefs
The New York Giants (4-8) visit Hollywood on Sunday to play the Chargers, who opened as -7.5 favorites. In Week 15, the Chargers turn around on a short week to host Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs (8-4) on Thursday Night Football.
The Chargers are 7-5 through Week 13 and currently sit in second place in the AFC West behind the Chiefs. If the season were to end today, the Chargers would be the #5 seed in the AFC playoffs.
After starting the season 4-1, the Chargers have yet to string together a winning streak. Since Week 8, the Chargers lost close games against the New England Patriots and Minnesota Vikings, but they were thrashed by the Denver Broncos two weeks ago. They won two narrow victories against the Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers before blowing out the Bengals this past Sunday.
The Chargers are +2200 odds to win Super Bowl 56, according to a recent update by DraftKings. The Chargers are +1000 odds to win the AFC, but they’re fifth on the NFL futures board. The Chiefs are the favorite to win the AFC West at -190 odds, but the Chargers are second on the board at +200 odds.
