Chargers injury report: Bolts missing huge offensive piece vs Broncos

The LA Chargers have already had to deal with some of the worst injury luck in the entire NFL this season. Things have seemingly started to turn around for the Bolts after two consecutive wins with the team getting healthier in the process.

However, the team was dealt yet another blow on Monday prior to the team's Week 6 primetime matchup against the Denver Broncos. All-Pro center Corey Linsley, who has been dealing with an illness for a few days, has officially been declared inactive.

Starting at center in place of Corey Linsley is Will Clapp, who individually was able to hold up in previous games where he had to fill in. However, the Chargers are now without 40% of their starting offensive line as the team's two best linemen are out of action with Rashawn Slater on the IR.

Losing Corey Linsley is a massive blow for the LA Chargers.

Some may point at Clapp being decent individually as a reason to believe that this won't impact the Chargers that much. Unfortunately, that is optimistic thinking against a really good Denver defense that is going to take advantage of this.

The Chargers' run game has really rebounded the last two weeks after a horrible three-game stretch to start the season. Linsley was a big part of the run game rebounding the way that it did and without him, the Chargers' running backs are going to have to do a lot more with a lot less to have a positive game.

Not only that, but Linsley is responsible for making protection adjustments and calls at the line of scrimmage once the team sees the defense. The offensive line is playing without its leader, which is going to have a big ripple effect.

Chargers fans that are downplaying this injury just have to look at the six quarters in which Linsley did not play this season. Linsley did not play in the second half of Week 2 and all of Week 3. Those were the worst six quarters of offense for the Bolts this year as the team was outscored 58-24.

MUST-READ: Chargers clearly won the AFC West arms race

The Chargers can rally past Linsley being out and certainly can still win the game, but it is going to be a much tougher challenge for Justin Herbert and the offense than it would have been with Linsley in the game.