One of the biggest storylines surrounding the LA Chargers during the 2022 season was the unshakable injury bug that followed the team around all season. Despite the laundry list of injuries, the Bolts were able to rally late in the season and make the playoffs.
This prompted the Chargers to make a big change, hiring a new athletic training director in the offseason. The only problem was that they hired someone from another one of the NFL's most injured teams in 2022, the Tennessee Titans.
The Chargers have not had better injury fortune under Sal Lopez as the Week 4 injury report on Wednesday looks like it came straight out of the 2022 season. After being relatively healthy in the first three weeks, the Chargers exploded with players on the injury report on Wednesday.
wednesday's #LVvsLAC injury report pic.twitter.com/wAmP4hU3vW
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) September 27, 2023
Chargers injury report does not look good for Week 4
Just because someone is on the injury report on Wednesday does not mean that they will miss Sunday's game. For example, Khalil Mack has consistently been getting veteran rest days and Joey Bosa has been dealing with a lingering injury that hasn't caused him to miss any games.
In other instances, it might not impact a player on Sunday. There is some hope that Corey Linsley and Gerald Everett can recover from their illness and play Sunday. That is likely. All that being said, there is still plenty to be concerned about for this game.
Both Alohi Gilman and Derwin James not participating is a bad sign. The Chargers did nothing to add to the safety room this offseason and if both players miss on Sunday the team will be without either starting safety. Rashawn Slater's inclusion, albeit in a limited capacity, is less than ideal. Kenneth Murray not participating after a great game is worrisome.
There are no guarantees that Austin Ekeler and Eric Kendricks, who have both missed two games this season, will be able to play in Week 4. The Chargers may take it slowly and let them get through the Week 5 bye without pushing it.
And all of this does not include the fact that Mike Williams tore his ACL and is out for the entire season. This Chargers team is already getting beat up and we are only three games into the 2023 season.
Injuries are inevitable in football as they are one of the true constants in sports. Yet the Chargers still seem to have some of the worst injury luck in the sport. Thank goodness for the Week 5 bye.