This morning, Ian Rapoport reported that Chargers edge rusher Khalil Mack would be out "a few weeks" with an elbow dislocation. Mack suffered the elbow dislocation after playing just 11 snaps vs. the Raiders in the Chargers' Monday Night Football win.
With the update, the concerns around it being a potential season-ending injury were put to rest.
Head coach Jim Harbaugh spoke to the media this afternoon after the report was released. Harbaugh said that it was an "elbow injury", although he would not confirm that it was a dislocation.
The Chargers head coach announced that Los Angeles would be placing Mack on IR today. Designated to return IR would mean that Mack would miss at least Weeks 3 to 6. The earliest he'd be able to return is Week 7 vs. the Colts.
The Chargers placed Mack on reserve/injured after Harbaugh's press conference.
The Chargers could still add an edge rusher with Khalil Mack injured
Mack officially being out for at least a month of the regular season certainly does change the calculus for the Chargers. Bud Dupree and Caleb Murphy combined for just one pressure this week on 54 total pass rush snaps vs. the Raiders. Kyle Kennard has been a healthy scratch and left a lot to be desired with his preseason performance.
Harbaugh was asked about pursuing EDGE rushers on the market given Mack's impending IR stint. He had this to say:
"We'll look. We're always looking," Harbaugh said. "We'll see what the coming days bring. But competitors always welcome."
Harbaugh mentioned Mack's injury as an opportunity for Kennard to play more in addition to DL Justin Eboigbe. He mentioned that Eboigbe played 12 snaps at EDGE after Mack had left the game. Before the Chargers consider any trades or external signings, those are the players that will have the most impact on a short week vs. Denver.
But Harbaugh's comments make it clear that if there's a move that the Chargers like now or in the future to bolster their EDGE depth, they'll look into it. We'll see if the Chargers' pass rush can turn the heat up on Bo Nix in the meantime. If not, some calls could be made as early as next week.