What happened: Jim Harbaugh said David Njoku and Charlie Kolar will be placed on injured reserve and miss at least four games. Njoku was carted off with a fibula injury and Kolar suffered a forearm injury, wiping out what Harbaugh called a position of depth for the Los Angeles Chargers.

Why it matters: Los Angeles built its balance around multiple tight end sets, so losing both starters forces a smaller formation menu. Opponents can now load up on wide receivers without fearing the middle seam. That is why this roster looks like a wild card fighter rather than a division winner until they return.