Projecting which Chargers players will return from injury after bye week

The LA Chargers dealt with an extensive injury report last week that led to key absences of several players. Right tackle Joe Alt, edge rusher Joey Bosa, and left tackle Rashawn Slater were the key names out with injuries.

Los Angeles dealt with 14 players in total on the injury report throughout last week. Wide receiver DJ Chark Jr., who has not played this season, will be eligible to come off of IR against Denver for the first time this season.

Not included in the list of injuries, but still just as impactful, was the one-game suspension of safety Derwin James. He was taken off the suspension list and placed back on the active roster after Sunday's game. His presence should be able to get the Chargers' defense closer to full strength.

While a lot of the focus on the Chargers' injuries is about getting Alt and Slater back for the offensive line, Bosa (hip) is also a crucial element in how he played in the first two weeks of the season. He has not practiced since reaggravating his hip injury early in the game vs. Pittsburgh. Head coach Jim Harbaugh said last Friday that Bosa was doing everything he could to be able to play after being declared OUT vs. Kansas City.

For now, it's wait-and-see with Bosa. But it doesn't sound encouraging that there's mostly been radio silence on his injury since the Pittsburgh. At least so far, it doesn't sound like an IR stint is in the works as the Chargers take it week to week.

The Chargers should get some help after the bye week, though.

Alt (knee) seems to be the high profile Charger most likely to make his return at Denver. He was active on Wednesday in Los Angeles' first BYE week practice that was seen by the media. Considering that Alt worked off to the side at practice leading up to the Chiefs game, it seems like he could be on track to minimize his games missed on the shorter end of a sprained MCL recovery.

The prognosis is not quite as clear for Slater. Slater left Week 3's Pittsburgh game with a pec strain and then attempted to come back into the second half before he was taken back out. His presence on the practice field seemed more distant than Alt's in the lead-up to the Chiefs game.

With this type of injury in particular, the Chargers obviously have to be careful in bringing Slater back to avoid a full pec tear or worsening of his current strain. He clearly did not have his usual confidence in movement and upper body strength when he tried to return to the Pittsburgh game. We'll have to see how practice develops next week, but a Week 6 start does feel like a longer shot for Slater than Alt right now.

As mentioned earlier, Chark is eligible to return from IR as soon as next week. The Chargers have yet to open his 21-day window by bringing him back to practice. On the other hand, linebacker Nick Niemann feels on pace to return vs. Denver. The Chargers activated his 21-day practice window as he returned to practice on the same Wednesday that Alt did.

Formal practice reports won't be available next week, but the Chargers should get at least a few key players back prior to their Denver matchup when they return from the bye week.