The Los Angeles Chargers have surprised people by winning two of their first three games this season, but reality is starting to set in, as they’re banged up heading into a Week 4 matchup against the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert has been dealing with an ankle injury since a Week 2 win against the Carolina Panthers, and although he gutted it out before leaving against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 3, his status against the Chiefs has been up in the air.
In addition, rookie right tackle Joe Alt and star left tackle Rashawn Slater have been dealing with injuries as well.
Herbert and Alt are listed as questionable, but Slater won’t play, and neither will pass rusher Joey Bosa, according to Mark Maske of The Washington Post.
The Chargers list Justin Herbert and Joe Alt as questionable, rule out Joey Bosa and Rashawn Slater. https://t.co/mQIVEiC3fP
— MarkMaske (@MarkMaske) September 27, 2024
Not having Slater, who made the Pro Bowl as a rookie in 2021, and possibly Alt as well would be very concerning, especially given the fact that Herbert isn’t 100 percent.
Slater missed most of the 2022 season because of a ruptured biceps tendon.
Bosa has been injury-prone over the years, appearing in just 14 games total over the previous two seasons.
Los Angeles wasn’t thought to be a playoff contender this season, with the expectation that it would be a transition year as new head coach Jim Harbaugh infuses the team with his winning culture and smash-mouth style of play.
But the ground attack has been potent, and the defense ranks fairly high in several key metrics.
If the Chargers can get healthy, perhaps they would have a legitimate shot at making the playoffs, given how unpredictable things have been across the NFL so far this season.
