LA Chargers: The four variables that will determine offensive line success

Third LA Chargers’ offensive line variable: Whether or not the true Mike Pouncey will return

When it was announced that Mike Pouncey was cleared to play in the 2020 season many Charger fans jumped with joy as they seemingly got their Pro Bowl center back. On paper, this was a huge addition to the offensive line that was not present for most of last season.

To be fair, Scott Quessenberry did a good job of filling in for Mike Pouncey and is a serviceable center. I would not say that he is necessarily an exciting option, but if Pouncey were to get hurt, the Chargers would not be completely out of luck.

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The problem with Pouncey is that he is not a constant in this equation that is going to produce highly at the center position. He is as big of a variable as anyone else as we simply cannot assume that he is going to return to form in 2020.

Neck injuries are no joke and while Pouncey is cleared to play it is not unreasonable to expect it to have some sort of negative impact on his play. Plus, he is on the wrong side of 30 and simply expecting him to return to top form after missing 11 games is unfair.

I think it is more likely than not that Pouncey returns and is, at the very least, league-average, which would be fine. However, I definitely would not rule out the possibility of him returning and being a shell of his former self.