Putting Chargers Injuries in Perspective

Sep 29, 2013; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers linebacker Dwight Freeney (93) on the field after being injured during the first half against the Dallas Cowboys at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

This year, as is the case most years, the Chargers have a lot of injured players; we all know that.  Just looking over the list of injured players is really frustrating because I do believe that we have a great team, they’re just never on the field.  So, I decided to take a look at the NFLs three undefeated teams and see what their injury reports would look like if they had suffered the same injuries as the chargers.

First off, here are the starters who did not practice today (and I’m talking week 1, 100% healthy, perfect world starters, not just starters from last week):

Danario Alexander, Malcom Floyd, Ryan Mathews, DJ Fluker, King Dunlap, Chad Rinehart, Melvin Ingram, Dwight Freeney, Jarret Johnson, Donald Butler

That’s 10 starters right there, ten guys who might not play on Sunday, 1/5 of our team.  Nightmare.  Now, a few of these guys have a chance to play on Sunday, and I hope they do, but 4 of them are out for the season (barring a miracle comeback by Ingram).

Anyway, the bottom line is that the injury bug has hit us at these positions: WR1. WR2, RB, RT, LT, LG, ROLB, LOLB, DE/LB (Freeney) and MLB.  Let’s take a look and see who the three undefeated teams would lose if they had similar injuries (based on their official depth charts and injury reports).

New Orleans Saints

WR1 – Marques Colston, WR2 – Lance Moore (Injured), RB – Let’s say Darren Sproles since they have like 15, RT – Zach Strief, LT – Charles Brown, LG – Ben Grubbs, OLB – Junior Galette, OLB – Will Smith (Injured), DE – Cameron Jordan, MLB – Curtis Lofton

Kansas City Chiefs

WR1 – Dwayne Bowe, WR2 – Donnie Avery, RB – Jamal Charles, RT – Eric Fisher, LT – Branden Albert, LG – Jeff Allen, OLB – Justin Houston, OLB – Tamba Hali, DE – Tyson Jackson, MLB – Derrick Johnson

Denver Broncos

WR1 – Demaryius Thomas, WR2 – Wes Welker, RB – Knowshon Moreno, RT – Orlando Franklin, LT – Ryan Clady (Injured), LG – Zane Beadles, OLB – Von Miller (Suspended), OLB – Shaun Phillips, DE – Derek Wolfe, MLB – Wesley Woodyard

Try doing this for any team, not just the undefeated ones and it put the Chargers injuries into frightening perspective.  It really is amazing how unlucky we have been with injuries this year (and I thought last year was bad).  The most frightening statistic when looking at these lists, however, is that two of these teams are in our division.  D’oh!

Now, I’ve noted the players who are out for these teams, but they’re nowhere near the Chargers numbers.  Can you imagine the frustration these team’s fans would have if they lost all of these players?  Would all of these teams be undefeated?  I wouldn’t bet against the Broncos as long as they have Manning, but it would be a heck of a lot harder.

I don’t know what my point is here to be honest.  I just wanted to put our injuries in perspective.  With all this considered, it’s really amazing that we’re 2-3 (and should be 4-1).  I guess my point is that we have a great team so don’t give up hope.  Just look at the Chiefs injury report from last year to see what a difference a few players can make.  Let’s just hope that in the future all our guys can stay healthy and we can play to our full potential.  In the mean time, let’s give the guys who are out there all the support we can.

Go bolts!

Dave O