Even with top receivers returning, Chargers face

The Chargers may have their two top extensive receivers back Sunday as they search their first win of the season against the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs.

Ladd McConkey (foot) and Quentin Johnston (chest) are off the injury report after lacking the Chargers’ Week 5 loss to the Denver Broncos.

“Heck, yeah. Fired up about that,” Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh said. “Really good week of preparation. … Excited for this opportunity.”

Harbaugh said he didn’t know whether or not McConkey or Johnston would have restricted snaps.

The Chargers, though, may use all the reinforcements they’ll get. They enter Arrowhead Stadium averaging 16.8 factors per sport — third-worst in the NFL — keen to snap a nightmare five-game skid heading into their bye week.

Tre’ Harris, who led the Chargers’ banged-up wideout unit against the Broncos, is out with a hamstring injury; KeAndre Lambert-Smith (hamstring) is questionable with the same ailment.

Rookie wideout Brenen Thompson (quad), whose unparalleled pace helps open up offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel’s scheme, is also questionable after lacking the last three video games.

Quarterback Justin Herbert isn’t the sort to complain about working with restricted choices.

“You have to try to keep the game the same,” Herbert said. “You can’t let it affect you too much.”

But it’s refreshing to have McConkey and Johnston back.

“Yeah, it was awesome to see those guys out there,” Herbert said Wednesday. “They’ve made so many plays for us. And, you know, we expect them to make more plays for us, too.

“To have those guys back out there — I know they’re doing everything they can to be out back out there for this team.”

Unfortunately for the Chargers, the offensive line is still severely hobbled.

Right deal with Joe Alt (neck) and left guard Kayode Awosika (fibula) stay out, that means rookie heart Jake Slaughter will continue to anchor a entrance that has featured a number of inexperienced gamers over the last two video games.

The offensive line was already down left deal with Rashawn Slater (ankle), who is on injured reserve, and heart Tyler Biadasz, whose season was over before it began when he sustained an anterior cruciate ligament tear in August.

McDaniel preferred what he noticed from the offensive line against the Broncos. He’s optimistic, actually with no other alternative, about the unit coming into the matchup with the Chiefs, a crew permitting the NFL’s seventh-fewest factors per sport (19.3).

“There [were] a lot of positives from the offensive line perspective,” McDaniel said. “I’ve never been a part of that many rookies playing at once. Fortunately, we drafted the right guys, and they [are] made of the right stuff. … There was a lot to build on.”

Kansas City, as ordinary over the last decade, might be a power to reckon with — particularly at home.

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes and new working back Kenneth Walker III have the Chiefs averaging the fifth-most factors per sport (29.5) and the second-most yards per sport (412) amid a 4-0 start.

“Explosiveness, man,” Chargers edge rusher Khalil Mack said. “[Walker is] breaking tackles. Just the ability to create plays between him and [Mahomes]. That’s a special duo there in that backfield.”

One the Chargers may have bother stopping, as they’ll also be without key defensive gamers such as security Derwin James Jr.

Winning in the NFL is already difficult enough. But for the injury-riddled Chargers, it’s been inconceivable so far, and it received’t be any simpler Sunday.

“Communicating and keeping your poise and all those factors,” Harbaugh said of getting ready for the loud atmosphere in Kansas City.