The Los Angeles Chargers will be without a key defensive player for an extended period of time after defensive end Joey Bosa is scheduled to undergo surgery on his groin and was placed on injured reserve.
The news was delivered to reporters by Chargers head coach Brandon Staley on Wednesday. He said that Bosa would be placed on injured reserve and expected him to come back.
“It’s going to be [ways], but we expect him to come back,” Staley said. “He’s optimistic and ready to attack it. He’s in a really good frame of mind. It’s never easy when you have an injury like that.”
Bosa suffered the injury during the first quarter of the Chargers’ 38-10 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. He added to the Chargers’ injury list that includes center Corey Linsley (knee), Rashawn Slater (biceps), quarterback Justin Herbert (ribs), Jalen Guyton (knee) and receivers Keenan Allen (hamstring).
Some of them may be able to return this week, but others will need more time, including Bosa. He will miss at least four weeks this season due to the league’s injured reserve requirements. On the other hand, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported that Bosa is expected to be sidelined for a month.
“What we’re trying to do is keep the sides the same, keep continuity,” Staley said. “For us, we feel like that is the best option for us going into this game plan.”
Last season, Bosa appeared in 16 games and recorded 10.5 sacks, 20 quarterback hits, and 51 combined tackles. This season, the third overall pick of the 2016 draft has recorded 1.5 sacks, four quarterback hits, and seven tackles.
In the five games he has missed since 2020, the Chargers are 2-3 without Bosa. Last season, the Chargers surrendered 41 points to the Houston Texans in Week 16 without him.
#Chargers coach Brandon Staley announces that Pro Bowl pass-rusher Joey Bosa (groin) will have surgery and be placed on Injured Reserve. He should be back later in the season.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 28, 2022
Chargers’ game plan due to Bosa’s absence
The Chargers lost the edge-rushing duo because of Bosa’s being sidelined. Bosa is paired with Khalil Mack, who was acquired this offseason from the Chicago Bears.
The Chargers wanted that by adding Mack, they could ease some of the opposition’s pressure on Bosa, and it had worked well in three games this season.
Mack has made a great start with the Chargers. He recorded three sacks in the first game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Then, he got another one against the Kansas City Chiefs, totaling four sacks this season. They have accounted for 121 combined sacks. Following Bosa’s injury, it will be up to Mack to play in the upcoming games.
Other than Mack, second-year player Chris Rumph II will be expected to fill Bosa’s absence, making his first NFL start against the Texans on Sunday. Staley said that Rumph was “ready, ready to play on the edge.”
Rumph said that he had a great learning experience after tagging along with Bosa and Mack during training camp and the regular season.
“Those are two Hall of Famers,” Rumph said. “Any time I’m in a team meeting, I’m always picking their minds. When they’re talking by themselves, I’m right behind them, picking up little things I can apply to my own game. I’m not expected to be Joey or Khalil, but there are certain things I can take from each one of them and apply to my own game.”
Both Mack and Rumph’s performances could be seen when the Chargers play against the Texans in Week 5.
#Chargers injuries:
*Justin Herbert: Playing with fractured rib cartilage
*Joey Bosa: Groin, needs surgery
*Rashawn Slater: Torn Biceps, season over
*Keenan Allen: Hamstring, has missed 2 games
*JC Jackson: Had ankle injury, has missed 2 games
*Corey Linsley: Knee injury
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 28, 2022