Injuries have already taken a serious toll on the Los Angeles Chargers season. Most expected that the bye week would offer some relief, but when their injury report came out it was just as long as it was heading into the Kansas City Chiefs game.
Injury Woes Continue For Chargers
While they will get some key pieces back, some Chargers starters have already been ruled out of the upcoming game against the Denver Broncos. Running back Gus Edwards is the sole member of the offense that was ruled out. Two defensive backs will also not play this weekend — starting outside corner Asante Samuel Jr and Nickelback Ja’Sir Taylor.
Edwards was originally named co-starter, but the Chargers have leaned toward fellow former Baltimore Raven J.K. Dobbins — 59.2 percent of snaps to 38.2 for Edwards. Dobbins had had the hot hand, but the Chargers running game has stalled the last two weeks. Hassan Haskins is the only other back to take handoffs this season. They also have, rookie sixth-rounder, Kimani Vidal on the roster and Jaret Patterson on the practice squad.
This will be the second consecutive game Ja’Sir Taylor has missed due to an injury to his Fibula. Last week, rookie Tarheeb Still got the nod to take Taylor’s spot in the slot. Still had a nice day, picking up four tackles and a sack and only allowing 23 yards receiving on five receptions.
Samuel hasn’t missed time since his rookie season. Replacing the team’s top cornerback may prove to be more difficult than Still stepping in for Taylor. The next man up appears to be rookie fifth-rounder, Cam Hart. The secondary may be even more short-handed with both Deane Leonard and Kristian Fulton listed as questionable for Sunday’s game.
It is a stroke of pure fortune for the Chargers that they are facing the 26th-ranked team by passing success rate and Bo Nix’s 63.8 completion percentage is 24th.
The Chargers do get some relief as Joe Alt, Denzel Perryman, Daiyan Henley, and Hayden Hurst have all been clear to play. Justin Herbert was also a full participant in practice for the first time in weeks.
