Chargers’ Joey Bosa grateful for bye week being moved up

The Los Angeles Chargers have a handful of players that are banged up.

The Chargers would have started their preparation today for a matchup against the Jets. But instead, they will be using the remainder of the week to rest and recover following five consecutive games.

Los Angeles’ schedule was reconstructed after the postponement of the contest between the Broncos and Patriots. Among the changes made was the Bolts’ bye week being moved up from Week 11 to Week 6.

Sitting at 1-4 after another close loss to the Saints in overtime, players are fortunate to have their week off come at time like this.

Among the crop is defensive end Joey Bosa, who is dealing with triceps, ankle and knee injuries. “I need it right now. It’s huge for a lot of guys,” Bosa said at Wednesday’s media availability.

Bosa was a game-time decision heading into the Monday night battle. He said he probably couldn’t have played if the game was on Sunday, adding the ankle gave him the most trouble.

L.A. has eight members of the team on the injured reserve, including key players like safety Derwin James, running back Austin Ekeler, defensive end Melvin Ingram, linebacker Drue Tranquill, cornerback Chris Harris Jr. among others.

The Chargers have also seen other notables like wide receiver Keenan Allen, tackle Bryan Bulaga and guard Trai Turner be forced to miss some action due to their perspective injuries.

There’s no denying that if Los Angeles had more reinforcements, the outcome to some of these games might’ve been different. But now they can only use this week to reflect on their woes and rest up to get healthy before their long stretch of the season.

Inactive report for Chargers’ Week 5 matchup vs. Saints

The Los Angeles Chargers will have two of their key players available.

The Los Angeles Chargers are on the road to take on the New Orleans Saints in Week 5 of the regular season.

Here is a look at their inactives today:

Tyrod Taylor

Jason Moore Jr

Joe Reed

Jahleel Addae

Trai Turner

Bryan Bulaga

Joe Gaziano

EDGE Joey Bosa and WR Mike Williams are officially active. Bosa has been banged up by knee, ankle and tricep injuries while Williams dealt with a hamstring injury.

Guard Trai Turner and tackle Bryan Bulaga remain out of the action while they recover from their perspective injuries. Trey Pipkins will start at right tackle while Ryan Groy starts at right guard.

Injury updates on Chargers’ Drue Tranquill, Justin Jackson, Trai Turner

Chargers coach Anthony Lynn spoke on the status of three players who had injuries.

The Chargers were without a pair of starters in the season opener against the Bengals, most notably guard Trai Turner.

Turner, who was ruled out of the game with a knee injury, had a chance to play Sunday but he was ultimately held out.

Coach Anthony Lynn said the team decided to play it safe with his knee injury, adding that he likes his chances better of playing this weekend against the Chiefs.

While Turner was out from the action, Tyree St. Louis got the start at right guard. St. Louis, at times, struggled. But he held his own for the most part, particularly in the run-blocking department.

Los Angeles, who already lost a key defensive player in Derwin James, saw another one go down early on in the contest.

Linebacker Drue Tranquill suffered a broken fibula, per coach Anthony Lynn. Lynn wouldn’t rule him out for the season, but Tranquill will be out for a while.

After Tranquill was carted off, Nick Vigil took his spot while Denzel Perryman rotated in.

Lynn said he’s looking at many linebacker combinations, but it sounds like rookie Kenneth Murray will stay at middle linebacker.

“We can move Kenneth because he’s so athletic, but do you want to move him to another position? That’s new learning,” Lynn said.

Another player that was ruled out late in the game was running back Justin Jackson, with a quad injury.

“We’re not sure how severe that is. We’ll try to work him in practice some time this week if he can. It will be a day-to-day deal,” Lynn said about Jackson.

No matter the health of Jackson, rookie Joshua Kelley proved that he is capable of manning the spot as the second running back with his performance on Sunday.

If Jackson is forced to miss some time, Los Angeles could bring up a player like Darius Bradwell off the practice squad for depth.

Chargers RB Justin Jackson will be ‘fine’ for season opener vs. Bengals

The Los Angeles Chargers will have their entire backfield intact for the season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Chargers running back Justin Jackson missed more than a week of practice because of a toe injury, but it appears he will be ready for the season opener against the Bengals.

According to coach Anthony Lynn, Jackson has been running and will be “fine” for Sunday’s game, per The Athletic’s Daniel Popper.

Based of Lynn’s comment, we should expect to see Jackson on the practice when Los Angeles begins their preparation on Wednesday.

Jackson had been battling for the No. 2 running back spot with rookie Joshua Kelley prior to getting banged up.

It remains to be seen who will be RB2 behind Austin Ekeler because the Chargers have yet to release the initial depth chart, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see Jackson in that spot solely based on experience.

Kelley is coming off a great training camp, and will be sure to get his share of carries, too. The backfield will likely be a committee to start off the season, but whoever is producing more, will get the bulk of the load.

Chargers’ Derwin James leaves practice with hamstring injury

This would mark the Pro Bowler’s second consecutive severe injury.

The Chargers present one of the top secondaries heading into the 2020, but they could be without one of their key pieces.

Safety Derwin James left practice on Sunday after suffering a hamstring injury, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

James came up limping after a play during Los Angeles’ scrimmage, and threw one of his gloves in frustration, according to Sports Illustrated’s Fernando Ramirez.

He stayed in the tent the remainder of the practice, and the severity of the injury remains to be seen.

If he’s out for quite a bit of time, this would mark his second consecutive injury. James suffered a stress fracture in his foot in 2019, limiting him to just five games.

If James is to miss some action, the Chargers could move Rayshawn Jenkins to strong safety while Nasir Adderley plays free safety. Or, the team could roll with rookie Alohi Gilman.

L.A. is already expected to start the season without wide receiver Mike Williams.

We will continue to update as more information rolls out.

First injury report for Chargers ahead of matchup vs. Jaguars

The Chargers had their first practice ahead of their Week 14 matchup against the Jaguars.

Following a heartbreaking loss to the Denver Broncos, the Los Angeles Chargers returned to work to get ready for their Week 14 matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Here is a look at Wednesday’s injury report:

Linebacker Nick Dzubnar and wide receiver Mike Williams were the only two who were held in a limited capacity at practice today. It’s a promising sign to see that the team is mostly healthy before the final stretch of the regular season.

Here is a look at the Jaguars’ injury report:

Key players — wide receiver Dede Westbrook, linebacker Myles Jack and defensive end Calais Campbell did not practice today.

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Chargers vs. Chiefs inactives

The Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs released their inactives ahead of the Monday night battle.

The Los Angeles Chargers released their inactives ahead of Monday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Inactive

LT Russell Okung
RT Sam Tevi
LB Drue Tranquill
WR Geremy Davis
RB Justin Jackson
DT T.Y. McGill
QB Easton Stick

Linebacker Drue Tranquill, who was listed as questionable with a calf injury on Saturday, is out. Denzel Perryman should have an expanded role due to Tranquill’s absence.

Here’s a look at the Chiefs’ inactives:

DE Alex Okafor
CB Kendall Fuller
QB Chad Henne
TE Blake Bell
OL Nick Allegretti
OL Jackson Barton
RB Darwin Thompson

Kansas City will have starting left tackle Eric Fisher back for the first time since Week 2, as well as right guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardiff, who has been out since Week 8 with an ankle injury.

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Chargers’ Russell Okung out of practice while rehabbing groin strain

Chargers offensive tackle Russell Okung did not practice on Tuesday and his status for Week 11 is questionable.

Following Thursday night’s game, Chargers coach Anthony Lynn said that offensive tackle Russell Okung’s status for the Monday night game against the Chiefs would be up in the air. Fast forward five days later, and it appears to be the same way.

Okung left the Week 10 matchup against the Raiders after only playing seven snaps with a groin injury and did not return to the game.

“He’s rehabbing. He’s working on the side. We’ll see where he’s at. .I’d love to see him play, but if he can’t go, he won’t go,” Lynn said, per The Athletic’s Daniel Popper.

If Okung is forced to miss Week 11, rookie Trey Pipkins will get the start at left tackle, while Trent Scott will fill in at right tackle for Sam Tevi, who underwent a minor surgery on his meniscus last Friday and could miss a couple weeks.

Pipkins and Scott will get a full week to prepare before facing a Chiefs front that leads the league in sacks (52).

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