One of the biggest variables that will determine the LA Chargers' success in 2024 is health. The Chargers battled unfortunate injury luck last season, which played a big role in the team having its worst season since 2015.
With Jim Harbaugh bringing strength and conditioning guru Ben Herbert with him, Chargers fans are optimistic that the 2024 season will be different. Granted, injuries are part of the NFL and will always happen but if the Chargers can limit injuries to the big stars it will bode well for the team.
While nothing serious has happened in training camp, Chargers' stars have been hit with unfortunate lingering injuries. Justin Herbert was in a walking boot for two weeks, Rashawn Slater was shaken up, and Joey Bosa has not been seen since suffering a hand/wrist injury in early August.
Both Herbert and Slater have had positive developments around their injuries and should be good to go for the start of the 2024 season. Bosa, however, was radio silent and fans naturally started to worry about his availability after the injuries he sustained the last two years. Thankfully, after nearly three weeks of not practicing, Bosa returned to the practice field in some capacity on Thursday.
Joey Bosa is back at Chargers practice working off to the side with a trainer. First time we’ve seen him at practice since he left joint practices with the Rams on August 4th
— Kris Rhim (@krisrhim1) August 22, 2024
Joey Bosa returns to Chargers practice on Thursday
This is a great development for Bosa and the Chargers. The star edge rusher is still working off to the side and is not a full participant in practice but this is a step in the right direction.
The Chargers have been rather quiet about Bosa's injury as whenever Harbaugh has been asked about the former third-round pick he has simply said he is "working through something". That has become Harbaugh's mantra as he does not over-share the injury status of his players.
With no intel to go off of, Chargers fans were naturally concerned Bosa's injury would bleed into the regular season. After all, Bosa has arguably been the most injury- prone Charger over the last two seasons, so it is hard to blame fans for being worried.
Bosa returning to practice on Thursday does not guarantee he will be ready for the start of the season. It is hard to even put a timeline on his return when the team has not shared any information about the severity of the injury.
However, there is a much higher chance of Bosa being ready to play in Week 1 than if he took another week or two to come back. With Bosa returning to practice on Thursday he officially has just over two weeks to get back into shape to square off against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 1.
Plus, Harbaugh did say after practice that he expects Bosa to play in Week 1 against the Raiders based on what he has been told, but still did not provide a concrete update.
But if Bosa does not want to rush back from the injury that should be fine, too. Edge rusher is one of the deepest positions on the Chargers roster and it can survive a game or two without Bosa.