The LA Chargers are looking to move to 5-3 in the middle of a tight race for a playoff spot in the AFC. Los Angeles is on the road in Week 9 to take on the Cleveland Browns, who seem like a completely different team with Jameis Winston under center.
Deshaun Watson's Achilles injury may help the Browns from a football standpoint as Winston provided a jolt the passing offense do desperately needed in Week 8 against the Baltimore Ravens. However, Winston is more volatile than any quarterback in the league, so it could all come crashing down against the Chargers.
Los Angeles does not have the luxury of benefitting from an injury and in fact, there is at least one key player who has already been ruled out. With several other questionable players on Friday's injury report, it is unclear who exactly will be suiting up for the Bolts.
Chargers Week 9 inactives vs. Browns:
Position | Player |
|---|---|
CB | Kristian Fulton |
WR | Brenden Rice |
WR | DJ Chark Jr. |
OL | Brenden Jaimes |
OL | Jordan McFadden |
TE | Stone Smartt |
DL | Justin Eboigbe |
QB (Emergency QB) | Easton Stick |
Kristian Fulton were both ruled out vs. the Browns on the Chargers' final injury report of the week. Rice's injury will not impact the Bolts much as he would have likely been a healthy scratch anyway.
Fulton's injury could be a big deal, especially considering Asante Samuel Jr. is also on the IR. Without Fulton and Samuel, the Chargers are without their two starting boundary corners, which may open the door for Winston to have a similar game as his previous start against the Ravens.
DJ Chark Jr. also will not make his Chargers debut in Week 9 against the Browns. There was optimism around him suiting up for the Bolts but the team will wait one more week to make that a reality.
Browns Week 9 inactives vs Chargers:
Position | Player |
|---|---|
LB | Jordan Hicks |
RB | D'Onta Foreman |
QB (Emergency QB) | Bailey Zappe |
OT | Germain Ifedi |
DT | Quinton Jefferson |
Like the Chargers, the Browns ruled two player out on the final injury report of the week. The linebacker position is taking a beating for Cleveland as the defense will be without two impactful starters against the Bolts.
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is not on the injury report as he was added to the IR. JOK has emerged as one of the best young linebackers in the game and his absence will open up the running and passing game for the Chargers.