Joey Bosa (97) of the Los Angeles Chargers looks on from the sideline during the second half of the game against the Tennessee Titans at SoFi Stadium on December 18, 2022, in Inglewood, California. (Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images/TNS)
COSTA MESA, Calif. — The plan, Chargers coach Brandon Staley said Friday, is to reunite Joey Bosa with fellow edge rusher Khalil Mack for Sunday’s game against the Rams at SoFi Stadium, the first time they will have played together since the first quarter of a Sept. 25 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
“He’s looked good,” Staley said of Bosa, who practiced with his teammates Thursday and Friday for the first time since undergoing groin surgery in September. “He was getting better and better. We didn’t want to designate him to return if we didn’t feel he wasn’t capable of performing.”
The Chargers acquired Mack in an offseason trade with the Chicago Bears to bolster their pass-rushing capabilities, giving them a stellar one-two punch at the outside linebacker position and easing some of the pressure Bosa faced from opposing offensive linemen and other blockers.
Mack is a five-time Pro Bowl selection; Bosa is a four-time selection.
That plan lasted all of two games plus a little less than one quarter before Bosa was sidelined on a seemingly routine play during the Chargers’ 38-10 loss to the Jaguars. Bosa sat out for the next three months before he was cleared to return to the practice field earlier this week.
Now, the playoff-bound Chargers can team Bosa with Mack again for their second-to-last game of the regular season and their finale against the Denver Broncos before a wild-card matchup that’s still to be determined. Bosa is likely to be limited to a specific number of snaps Sunday.
“He’s got to get his football conditioning like everyone else,” Staley said when asked about possible restrictions. “It’s not like he’s been playing for three months, but he’s going to go out there and play. That was our plan. He’s going to go out there and he’s going to play. He’s going to play.”
Bosa didn’t wish to speak to reporters for a second consecutive day, after an extended session Thursday in which he revealed he had been dealing with a chronic injury on the left side of his groin for several seasons before tearing the right side during the game against Jacksonville.
Said Bosa, hurriedly taking off his sweat-soaked workout gear and hustling toward the showers: “You missed your chance (Thursday), and now I’m naked.”
Asked a reporter, not taking it personally: “Are you feeling good?”
Bosa: “No.”
Defensive lineman Morgan Fox, watching the scene and laughing, said: “Good talk.”
Clearly, it was good to have Bosa and his outsized game and personality back.
“It’s always fun having Joey out there, being himself, having fun, playing ball,” Mack said. “Whether it’s relief or whatever you want to call it, I know it’s a great feeling, not only having the kind of dynamic player he is (back), but understanding the energy and character that he brings in those (key) situations.”
Bosa rejoins a Chargers defense that has been spinning in greased grooves during a three-game winning streak, limiting the Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans and Miami Dolphins to only six of 32 third-down conversions. The Colts were 0 for 10 on third-down conversions.
In addition, the Chargers sacked opposing quarterbacks 13 times over the past three games, including seven against the Colts. The Chargers also intercepted Indianapolis quarterback Nick Foles three times Monday en route to a 20-3 victory that clinched a wild-card playoff berth.
Opponents haven’t scored against the Chargers in four consecutive first quarters.
Expectations for Bosa’s impact Sunday against the Rams are tempered by the knowledge he’s been sidelined for 12 games. The Chargers realize it’s going to take time for him to get back into the flow of playing an actual game with and against players going full tilt.
“You have to get your timing back and your rhythm,” Staley said. “You have to get your pads on. There’s a difference between working out there on a grass field in shirts and shorts and then (wearing) shoulder pads and helmets and you’re hitting people. He has to get all that football stuff back.”
Injury report
Safety Derwin James Jr. was ruled out of Sunday’s game against the Rams because of a concussion suffered Monday against the Colts. James’ participation in practice Thursday and Friday was limited, according to the official injury report submitted by the Chargers. …
Fullback Zander Horvath was listed as questionable to play because of an ankle injury …
Running back Austin Ekeler (knee), defensive lineman Sebastian Joseph-Day (back) and right tackle Trey Pipkins III (knee) were each cleared to play after they were listed on the Chargers’ injury report earlier in the week.
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