Chargers' Tuli Tuipulotu has Khalil Mack setting new goals after milestone sack

Needing a dominant defensive performance after surrendering nearly 350 total yards and 35 points to the Jacksonville Jaguars ahead of their bye week, the Los Angeles Chargers got just that this past Sunday in an emphatic 31-14 victory over the rival Las Vegas Raiders, giving up a season-low 156 yards and sacking Geno Smith five times to help the Bolts maintain the No. 5 slot in the AFC playoff picture.

A pair of those sacks on Smith came at the hands of Tuli Tuipulotu, both of which came on third down, with the third-year edge rusher also recording a pair of tackles for loss on Raiders rushing attempts as well as a pass defensed. So, it was certainly a well-balanced and productive afternoon.

Since the Chargers took the USC alum in the second round of the 2023 draft with the 54th overall pick, he has seen his sack total rise every year. After recording 4.5 as a rookie, which helped him earn PFWA All-Rookie Team honors, he racked up 8.0 a season ago.

And with his two on Sunday, Tuipulotu upped his 2025 count to 10.0, making him one of just nine to hit double digits thus far, joining Myles Garrett (19.0), Brian Burns (13.0), Micah Parsons (12.5), Danielle Hunter (11.0), Josh Sweat (11.0), Nik Bonitto (10.5), Will Anderson Jr. (10.5), and Byron Young (10.0). That's some pretty elite company right there.

Khalil Mack has obviously aided in Tuipulotu's development over the last few years, and while he's undoubtedly proud of his protege, he was also quick to start setting new goals for the 23-year-old.

Khalil Mack always expected this out of Tuli Tuipulotu

"I expected it from him this year," Mack told the media after the Chargers' victory. "The guy has been working hard. When you see how he works day in and day out, it's the expectation. The expectation now moving forward is to capitalize on it and get to 17, 18, 19."

Mack, of course, hit 17.0 in his second year with Los Angeles in 2023, matching Leslie O'Neal (1992) and Shawne Merriman (2006) for the most in a single season in Chargers history. With just five regular-season games remaining, it might be difficult for Tuipulotu to equal that number this season, but he certainly seems up to the challenge.

"It's not enough," Tuipulotu said of his new career-high. "I feel like there's a lot more out there."

The Chargers will undoubtedly be hoping for Tuipulotu to add to his total next Monday night when they host Jalen Hurts and the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles, especially if Justin Herbert is unable to take the field following his surgery to repair a fractured metacarpal in his left hand.