The LA Chargers placed rookie linebacker Junior Colson on the Non-Football Injury list a week before the start of training camp. Colson was selected in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft after playing collegiate football for Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh.
The former Wolverine also dealt with a minor injury during Chargers' OTAs earlier in the offseason, prompting many fans to worry about the long-term implications of Colson being placed on the NFI list.
After a week without any information as to why Colson was placed on the list, Harbaugh spoke to the media on Wednesday and relayed that the rookie linebacker had to have surgery to have his appendix removed after discovering he had appendicitis.
Junior Colson placed on Chargers NFI list due to appendicitis
Appendicitis is considered a common diagnosis, with an average of over 200,000 cases in the United States in a year, according to the Mayo Clinic. While anyone who has dealt with appendicitis knows it can be grueling, it is not something that should keep Colson out for his rookie season.
How long Colson has to sit out depends on what kind of surgery he had to remove his appendix. In minor cases, the recovery time to return to "normal activities" is 1-3 weeks. The Chargers have absolutely no reason to rush Colson back, giving him plenty of time to rest closer to that three-week timeframe.
In cases where open surgery is needed, it can take as long as 4-6 weeks for someone to return to strenuous activities. Even in this timeline, Colson would be able to return by the start of the 2024 season.
Colson was placed on the NFI seven and a half weeks before the Chargers open the season against the Las Vegas Raiders.
With Colson out, the two starting linebackers to watch in training camp are veteran Denzel Perryman and second-year linebacker Daiyan Henley. Troy Dye, who was signed for his special teams impact, will also have a chance to get more playing time with the first-team defense.