EL SEGUNDO, Calif -- The Los Angeles Chargers are placing tight ends David Njoku and Charlie Kolar on injured reserve, coach Jim Harbaugh announced Monday.
The moves, which will sideline both players for at least four games, will leave the Chargers with one tight end -- Oronde Gadsden -- on the active roster.
Njoku was carted off the field in Sunday's 26-14 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders with an injury to his fibula. Kolar has an injury to his forearm.
The Chargers could fill the void at tight end by turning to their practice squad, where they currently have two tight ends: Evan Svoboda and Patrick Herbert, a brother of quarterback Justin Herbert.
It's hard to overstate the importance of Kolar and Njoku, two tight ends that thrive as blockers, where Gadsden struggles, in an offense that relies heavily on tight ends to block in the rushing offense. General manager Joe Hortiz spent more money than any other position on outside free agents to beef up the tight end room.
It's also a major blow to an already struggling offense, which has looked helplessly lost for the first two weeks.
Kolar had played 68 snaps and Njoku 40 to Gadsden's 34 through the first two weeks, despite Kolar and Njoku exiting Sunday's 26-14 loss to the Raiders early with injuries. Gadsden is best in the passing game, and scored a touchdown in Sunday's loss, but struggles as a run blocker.
"A lot of confidence in Oronde's game," Harbaugh said Monday. "So many things that he does well."
Harbaugh also said that starting left guard Kayode Awosika (fibula) and defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson (hamstring) will "miss some time." Both exited Sunday's loss early.
Trey Pipkins, who rotated at left guard with Awosika in Week 1, would be in line to start but he missed Sunday's game with a knee injury. Harbaugh said that Trevor Penning will start at left guard if Pipkins isn't healthy enough to go Sunday.
The injuries from Sunday mean that in total, five of the Chargers' eight free agent signings will now miss games; a list that includes center Tyler Biadasz (season-ending ACL injury), Njoku, Kolar, Tomlinson and Awosika -- essentially five starters. Njoku appeared to get injured while blocking for running back Omarion Hampton. The entire team came out on the field to give Njoku well wishes as he exited on a cart.
The Chargers signed Njoku to a one-year deal in May after he spent his first nine seasons with the Cleveland Browns. Kolar signed a three-year, $24.3 million contract with the Chargers in March after he spent his first four seasons with the Baltimore Ravens.
Njoku has eight receptions for 67 yards this season, while Kolar has three receptions for 21 yards.
The Chargers are 0-2 to start the season after upset losses at home to the Arizona Cardinals and Raiders. Coming into this season, ESPN's Football Power Index gave the Chargers the fifth-highest odds to win the Super Bowl.