Chargers’ Keenan Allen tried a lateral against the Chiefs that failed miserably
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Keenan Allen attempted a backward lateral on third-and-16 that failed.
- The lateral hit the ground, ruled a fumble and recovered by Omarion Hampton.
- Chargers failed to convert; drive ended in a punt.
If I told you a player threw a lateral during the Chiefs’ game Sunday against the Chargers at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, who would you have guessed?
Without having seen the play, most would have hypothesized Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, right?
Before falling in love with superstar singer Taylor Swift, Kelce was enamored with trying laterals during a game. But he didn’t try one on Sunday against the Chargers.
It was Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen. L.A. had a third-and-16 from the Chiefs’ 49-yard line when Justin Herbert threw a 7-yard pass to Allen. If he had jumped forward, the Chargers might have been in range for a Cameron Dicker field-goal attempt.
Instead, Allen threw it backward toward teammate Omarion Hampton, and the play ended up being just a 2-yard gain. And it officially was recorded as a fumble and a recovery by Hampton because the ball hit the ground. That’s how bad the lateral attempt was.
The Chargers ended up punting after this play.
This story was originally published December 14, 2025 at 1:56 PM.
