The LA Chargers had a decision to make this past offseason to become cap-compliant. When the dust settled, the Chargers ultimately retained edge rushers Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa over wide receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams.
With Allen already missing two games this season and not looking the same in Week 1, it appeared the Chargers made the right decision. At its best, this Chargers' pass rush is one of the most dynamic in the league and that has shown up early in the 2024 season.
However, the glaring problem is that Bosa has also been banged up this season. Bosa was on a snap count in Week 2 with a hip injury and was projected to get a full game's worth of snaps in Week 3 against the Steelers. That ultimately did not end up happening, as Bosa limped off the field with trainers after one snap against Pittsburgh.
CBS is now saying Joey Bosa re-aggravated his hip injury and does not have his helmet with him. Officially questionable to return.
— Guilty As Charged Podcast (@GACPodcast17) September 22, 2024
Joey Bosa reignites Chargers fans' injury concerns after just one snap
It would be one thing if Bosa was always durable and this was just a minor hip injury that has disrupted his play over the last two weeks. But that is not the case with Bosa, who unfortunately will not shake the injury-prone narrative around him if he continues missing time like this.
Bosa has hardly played in each of the last two seasons heading into 2024. Bosa played just five games in 2022 and nine games in 2023. Bosa played 848 defensive snaps in his last Pro Bowl season in 2021 and has played 540 defensive snaps in the Chargers' 37 games since.
Bosa's availability against the Steelers in Week 3 is not the biggest concern. Instead, fans are worried about the long-term prospects of Bosa's health. If it took only one snap for Bosa to re-aggravate his hip injury then that could be telling of a more serious injury moving forward.
And even if it is not the hip, Bosa has not built up a durable track record with an array of injuries dating back to 2022. The hip might not be a long-term concern but Chargers fans can't be confident in Bosa staying 100% healthy throughout the year.
Bosa is still one of the best edge rushers in the entire sport when he is on the field. There is no denying that. The problem is that in recent years Bosa has been less and less available for the Bolts.