The Los Angeles Chargers managed to get nearly a decade of high-end pass rush play out of five-time Pro Bowler Joey Bosa, but the decision to bring an end to their partnership after 72 sacks was likely influenced by his constant injury problems, which prevent him from reaching his full potential.
Bosa was still able to find gainful employment on the free agent market, as the Buffalo Bills managed to ink him to a one-year contract with the goal of turning him into a pass rush dynamo opposite Greg Rousseau. Unfortunately, the Bills have been hit with another roadblock.
Bosa is reported to have suffered a calf injury that will keep him out for "the foreseeable springtime, at least." Bosa suffering a soft tissue injury right as his hype is starting to get a bit out of control? Never heard that one before!
Buffalo is now strapped into the same roller coaster that the Chargers found themselves in for years. Their belief in Bosa's ability to set the edge and get after the quarterback is always blunted by
Bills fans learning about former Chargers star Joey Bosa's injuries
What has set 49ers star Nick Bosa apart from his brother has been his durability, as they are both tremendously talented two-way defensive ends. Joey's injuries at this stage of his career should be even more alarming
Buffalo is no stranger to paying older edge rushers with durability concerns, as they are fresh off giving Von Miller an eye-popping six-year contract that led to his release in his third season out of that deal. At least Bosa is a one-year punt who was known as slightly damaged goods going in.
Bosa can still be a very effective pass rusher when healthy, but the number of healthy snaps the Bills might get out of him seems to be shrinking with each passing week. While the Bills picked two defensive tackles in the 2025 NFL Draft, they didn't add any traditional edge rushers who could mitigate any possible Bosa injury to the mix.
Bosa's days as a high-end starter, sadly, are in the rear-view mirror. While he can still be an effective player, Buffalo could end up being burned in the same way as the Chargers if they rely on him to be a stabilizing force that takes this defense to the next level.