Winless Chargers Refuse to Wave White Flag as Trade Inquiries Are Shut Down

The Los Angeles Chargers are refusing to wave any sort of white flag ahead of the November 10 NFL trade deadline, despite starting the 2026 season at 0-6. According to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, writing on Friday, the Chargers have shut down trade inquiries for their veterans even as the team sits winless after its Week 7 bye. That means pass-rusher Khalil Mack and wide receiver Quentin Johnston, both named as possible trade candidates elsewhere, are not currently available. General manager Joe Hortiz and coach Jim Harbaugh, Breer reported, appear unwilling to embrace a sell-off while preparing to serve as the road team against the 3-4 Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium this Sunday. Breer also suggested the Chargers could embrace a fire sale if they lose to the Rams; as of Friday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Chargers as 6.5-point underdogs. The stance matters across the league, with the San Francisco 49ers, Buffalo Bills, Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears, New England Patriots and Detroit Lions among teams in need of defensive help that could be interested in a player such as Mack, while the 49ers, Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs and Las Vegas Raiders have been named as clubs that could acquire a wide receiver before November 10.