The LA Chargers have clinched a trip to the NFL Playoffs and are looking to potentially move up to the fifth seed in Week 18. With a win and a Pittsburgh Steelers loss, the Chargers would secure a first-round matchup against the Houston Texans.
Regardless of what happens in Week 18, the main objective for the Chargers is to go into the NFL Playoffs as healthy as possible. That is why risk-reward is so imperative in Week 18, and why Harbaugh has a tough decision to make if the Steelers win on Saturday to give the Chargers nothing to play for.
No Chargers superstars are dealing with major injuries heading into the NFL Playoffs (unlike 2022, when Mike Williams was out and Joey Bosa had just recovered from a long injury stint) but the team was dealt a huge blow in Week 17's win.
Standout safety Elijah Molden suffered a shin injury that ended his 2024 season. Molden, who Los Angeles traded for right before the season, has played a huge role on the Chargers' defense by allowing Derwin James to log more snaps at the nickel position.
Losing him in the secondary is undoubtedly a big blow for the Chargers. On the bright side, though, it appears the team is gearing up to welcome Alohi Gilman back into the fold right in time for the NFL Playoffs.
Jim Harbaugh said #Chargers could open up S Alohi Gilman's 21-day window this week. Gilman has been on IR since Week 12 with a hamstring injury.
— Daniel Popper (@danielrpopper) December 30, 2024
Jim Harbaugh reveals Alohi Gilman may be returning to Chargers right in time for NFL Playoffs
Gilman has been sidelined for several weeks and is one part of what has been an extremely banged-up safety room. The Chargers have had to rely on Tony Jefferson, Marcus Maye (who also got hurt) and now, Eddie Jackson to provide depth at the safety position.
Gilman was not having a great season up until his injury but he still provides the Chargers a better alternative than Jackson. The Chargers can still operate as usual with Gilman and Jefferson at the two safety positions with James playing in the nickel.
Granted, Harbaugh did not confirm concretely that the Chargers are activating Gilman's 21-day window just yet. However, Harbaugh has been rather tight-lipped when it comes to injury matters. The fact he even spoke it into existence is a telling sign that it will (probably) happen.
Opening the 21-day practice window does not guarantee Gilman will play right away, hence the 21 days. However, the Chargers have operated in a manner where if someone gets activated, they typically play that weekend. That is what happened with J.K. Dobbins last week.
This also could be a strategic play by the Chargers to activate Gilman with the intention of sitting him Sunday so he can be ready for the NFL Playoffs. The Chargers have one more regular-season IR activation to use, and once the playoffs start, the team will only have two IR activations.
By activating Gilman, even if he does not play in Week 18, the Chargers would be preserving the two IR activations instead of using one of them in the first round on Gilman.
This is a savvy way to go about the league's roster rules and is telling that Gilman may be ready for the start of the NFL Playoffs.