Rashawn Slater and Joey Bosa are officially out for at least four weeks.
On Wednesday, the team announced that Slater (biceps) and Bosa (groin) have been placed on injured reserve, rendering them inactive until at least Week 9 against Atlanta. (Technically, both players would be eligible to return in Week 8, but that is Los Angeles’ bye week.)
Slater, who ruptured his biceps tendon against Jacksonville on Sunday, is not expected to return this season. If he does, it would likely be for a playoff push. On the other hand, Bosa is dealing with a groin strain that Brandon Staley called “week-to-week” as recently as Tuesday. That he was placed on IR is likely an indication of a more severe strain, typically with a 4-6 week recovery time. That makes this week a relatively ideal time to put Bosa on IR since the addition of the bye week will give him five weeks to recover from surgery.
To fill out the rest of the roster, LA signed wide receiver Jason Moore Jr. and tight end Richard Rodgers to the active roster. Both players were previously on the practice squad. Rodgers had already used his maximum three practice squad elevations in the first three weeks of the season while filling in for the injured Donald Parham Jr., while Moore was called up only in Week 2 against the Chiefs.
These are probably not surprising moves, as Moore and Rodgers are two of the only three players LA has used elevations on all season. (The other is cornerback and special teamer Kemon Hall.) Moore seems to favor Michael Bandy and Joe Reed from special teams coordinator Ryan Ficken, who will need someone to replace Jalen Guyton on punt coverage after the receiver tore his ACL against Jacksonville. On offense, I’d still expect Guyton’s role to be filled by John Hightower, who was signed to the practice squad.
Rodgers signing to the active roster is a bit peculiar considering he only played five total snaps against Jacksonville and has to contend with the impending return of Parham from his offseason hamstring injury. However, LA has historically liked to carry four tight ends on the active roster, which could potentially signal more H-back style work for Tre’ McKitty, who has previously filled that role. Rodgers is yet another veteran with experience as a playoff winner, and that’s been a point of emphasis for the Chargers this offseason, so maybe that’s a factor as well.
Los Angles still has one open spot on the practice squad following Wednesday’s moves.