Chargers final injury report vs. Broncos: Joey Bosa, Uchenna Nwosu OUT

The Chargers are thin at the defensive end position.

The Los Angeles Chargers released their final injury report ahead of the Week 16 battle with the Denver Broncos.

Here is a look at the report:

L.A. will be without edge defenders Joey Bosa (concussion) and Uchenna Nwosu (knee), which means that Jerry Tillery and Isaac Rochell will start and Emeke Egbule should get extended snaps.

Linebacker Denzel Perryman (back) and wide receiver Keenan Allen (hamstring) are questionable. Tight end Hunter Henry remains on the COVID-19 list.

For the Broncos, running back Phillip Lindsay (hip/knee) has been ruled out and Royce Freeman (hip) is questionable, which means that Melvin Gordon will be plenty busy on Sunday.

Chargers DC Gus Bradley explains Uchenna Nwosu’s lack of snaps

Uchenna Nwosu needs to be on the field more.

The Chargers selected edge defender Uchenna Nwosu in the second round of the 2018 NFL draft with the hopes of him becoming the successor to Melvin Ingram. However, the amount of time that Nwosu has spent on the field says otherwise.

Nwosu has played in 12 games, four of which he started when Ingram was out with various injuries. But he’s only logged 320 snaps in that time. For perspective, that’s makes up 39% of the defensive snaps this season.

It’s puzzling because Nwosu has proven to be the team’s second best pass rusher behind Joey Bosa and he’s been a force against the run in his three stints. Nevertheless, Nwosu has seen Jerry Tillery and Isaac Rochell take the snaps that he should be having.

At Tuesday’s media availability, defensive coordinator Gus Bradley was asked about Nwosu’s lack of playing time and he went on to say that he’s still banged up a little bit from a shoulder injury sustained against the Jets back in Week 11. Bradley also added that the team is still “learning about him.”

Nwosu logged 49% percent of the snaps when he returned in Week 13, but they were decreased by 19% this past weekend. The former USC product has also been experimented at linebacker in their base packages, even after proving that he’s at his best at the line of scrimmage.

If Los Angeles anticipates Nwosu being the starting LEO after this season, assuming Ingram leaves in free agency, it would be wise for the team to give him the starting role now while the veteran remains out for the rest of the season.

But here we are.

Like I’ve always said, play your best players. Nwosu has proven to be one, but the coaching staff seem to think otherwise.

Chargers Injury Report: Estimated list of 12 players who would not have practiced

The Los Angeles Chargers have a short week.

It’s a short week for the Chargers, who are set to take on the Raiders on Thursday night, which is four days after their last game.

Even without practice on Monday, Los Angeles was still required to give an estimated injury report in order to have the required three.

Here is a look at the report, courtesy of the team’s official Twitter account:

Tackle Bryan Bulaga and guard Trai Turner both suffered head injuries in Sunday’s victory over the Falcons. Bulaga is in concussion protocol while Turner is not, per coach Anthony Lynn.

There were a few players that had to be taken off the field last weekend, including wide receivers Keenan Allen (hamstring), Mike Williams (back), tight end Hunter Henry (hip) and edge defender Uchenna Nwosu (back/shoulder).

This list does not mean they will miss time throughout the week. This report is more so about highlighting players who will possibly be limited or unable to practice based on their injury status entering the short week.

Chargers to start EDGE Isaac Rochell vs. Falcons

The Chargers need to find a way to generate more pressure.

Outside of edge defender Joey Bosa, there has hardly been that much pressure generated on opposing quarterbacks.

Following EDGE Melvin Ingram being placed on the injured reserve last month, the Chargers have experimented with Uchenna Nwosu and Jerry Tillery at the position, but the results haven’t been inspiring.

In hopes of generating a spark, Los Angeles has decided to promote 2020 Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee Isaac Rochell to starter this weekend against the Falcons.

Coach Anthony Lynn said Rochell will play big end, the position primarily played by Bosa, while Bosa plays LEO and Nwosu plays strongside linebacker in base packages, like he did last week. Tillery will rotate in.

Lynn cited to Tillery’s penalties that have been ongoing as of late as one of the reasons for the change. He didn’t go into detail as to why Nwosu isn’t getting extended reps, but his shoulder injury could be a reason why.

Rochell, a seventh-round pick of the 2017 NFL draft, has 16 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss this season.

With Ingram set to hit free agency and the team experimenting with other edge defenders in the final stretch of the season, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Chargers address the position in the first couple of rounds in the 2021 NFL draft.

Chargers final injury report vs. Patriots: LB Denzel Perryman doubtful

The Los Angeles Chargers could be thin at the linebacker position.

The Los Angeles Chargers released their final injury report ahead of the Week 13 battle with the New England Patriots.

Here is a look at the report:

DOUBTFUL

Denzel Perryman

QUESTIONABLE

Kalen Ballage

Casey Hayward

Uchenna Nwosu

Joe Reed

The Chargers may very well be without linebacker Denzel Perryman, who suffered a back injury in last weekend’s loss to the Bills. The team could also be missing Kyzir White, who still remains on the COVID-19 list.

If Perryman and White can’t play, Nick Vigil and Cole Christiansen will split snaps at linebacker, according to coach Anthony Lynn.

If cornerback Casey Hayward has to miss the second consecutive game, Lynn hinted that Brandon Facyson would start over Tevaughn Campbell on the outside opposite of Michael Davis.

Chargers EDGE Melvin Ingram done for remainder of 2020 season

Chargers edge defender Melvin Ingram is slated to be a free agent after the season.

The Chargers will be without edge defender Melvin Ingram for the remainder of the 2020 season.

Ingram was put on the injured reserve once earlier this season with a knee injury and returned in Week 7. He re-injured his knee in Week 11’s victory over the Jets, which led him to be placed on the injured reserve for the second time this season.

A player can’t be activated off the IR twice. Therefore, Ingram’s season has come to an end.

In seven games, Ingram failed to record a single sack after posting at least seven sacks in each of the last five seasons.

The 31-year old is slated to become a free agent after the season. Based on the dip in production and injury history, there’s reason to believe that Ingram won’t be back in 2021 and beyond.

If Ingram isn’t back, Uchenna Nwosu could then become the long term starting LEO. Or the team could elect to address the position early on in the 2021 NFL draft.

Chargers inactives: See who’s in and who’s out for Week 12 vs. Bills

Austin Ekeler is in while Casey Hayward is out.

The Los Angeles Chargers are on the road to take on the Buffalo Bills in Week 12 of the regular season.

Here is a look at their inactives today:

Easton Stick

Casey Hayward Jr.

Kalen Ballage

Uchenna Nwosu

Tyree St. Louis

Storm Norton

Cortez Broughton

Chargers final injury report vs. Bills: CB Casey Hayward among 3 players out

The Los Angeles Chargers will be without three key defenders against the Buffalo Bills.

The Los Angeles Chargers released their final injury report ahead of the Week 12 battle with the Buffalo Bills.

Here is a look at the report:

OUT

CB Casey Hayward

DE Melvin Ingram

DE Uchenna Nwosu

QUESTIONABLE

RB Kalen Ballage

Facing a dominant Bills offense, it doesn’t help that the Chargers will be without Hayward, Ingram and Nwosu.

With Hayward out, Tevaughn Campbell will likely get extended reps on the outside. Meanwhile, Los Angeles will go with the “hot hand” approach to fill the LEO position. Coach Anthony Lynn said he’ll rotate Joey Bosa, Jerry Tillery and Emeke Egbule.

If Ballage can’t play, running backs Joshua Kelley and Troymaine Pope will split the reps. However, there’s a chance that Austin Ekeler could return this weekend, which would be huge for the backfield.

Report: Chargers’ Uchenna Nwosu (shoulder) expected to miss a few weeks

Chargers linebacker Uchenna Nwosu sprained the AC joint in his shoulder.

Chargers linebacker Uchenna Nwosu went down with a shoulder injury in Sunday’s victory over the Jets and did not return to the game. Now, the team is preparing to be without him for a few games.

According to Houston Chronicle’s Aaron Wilson, Nwosu sprained the AC joint in his shoulder and is expected to miss roughly three weeks. Wilson added that there was concern, it was much more serious.

The injury occurred on a sack by linebacker Denzel Perryman. Nwosu was spotted laying on the ground along with a Jets offensive lineman. When he got up, he was pointing to the chest/shoulder area.

Nwosu has served as edge defender Melvin Ingram’s backup. This season, he’s started four games, all while Ingram missed time with his perspective injury, where he amassed 23 tackles, eight quarterback hits, 3.5 sacks and three tackles for loss.

Report: Chargers’ Uchenna Nwosu (shoulder) expected to miss a few weeks

Chargers linebacker Uchenna Nwosu sprained the AC joint in his shoulder.

Chargers linebacker Uchenna Nwosu went down with a shoulder injury in Sunday’s victory over the Jets and did not return to the game. Now, the team is preparing to be without him for a few games.

The injury occurred on a sack by linebacker Denzel Perryman. Nwosu was spotted laying on the ground along with a Jets offensive lineman. When he got up, he was pointing to the chest/shoulder area.