Corey Liuget
The Chargers need a spark on defense. Missing Joey Bosa has been rough on this unit and through four games, it ranks No. 25 in the league. That wasn’t supposed to be the case with the rookie additions of James, Uchenna Nwosu and Kyzir White.
But it gets a boost this week as one of the starters returns to the lineup.
Though Corey Liuget isn’t Bosa, he will likely be fired up and ready to make an impact after being forced to sit out the first four games of the season due to a violation of the league’s policy against substance abuse. The fact that Liuget has sued his former personal trainer shows that he doesn’t accept full blame for that matter.
In 12 career games against the Raiders, Liuget has never had a sack. Wouldn’t it be great for him to get his first against the silver and black on Sunday?
On the season, the Chargers have just eight sacks. The absence of Bosa is allowing teams to place more of a focus on keeping Melvin Ingram at bay. Ingram has 1.5 sacks on the season, and those came in the same game against the Bills. In the other three games against the Chiefs, Rams and 49ers, he’s been a non factor, registering just three total tackles in those three games.
Getting Liuget on the field could help Ingram become more effective as well. The Chargers need better, more consistent play out of the defensive line.