EL SEGUNDO — One of the smartest moves made by the previous Chargers regime was to acquire outside linebacker Khalil Mack from the Chicago Bears on March 10, 2022 and pair him with Joey Bosa, a team of multiple Pro Bowl selections who could threaten opposing quarterbacks for seasons to come.
It’s funny.
The trade didn’t turn out the way former general manager Tom Telesco envisioned. Not that Mack didn’t live up to expectations, because he undoubtedly did, earning his seventh and eighth Pro Bowl selections. Not that Bosa didn’t live up to expectations because it did, but with a caveat.
Bosa’s injuries undermined their duo, preventing them from achieving the consistent one-two punch that was expected of them. Bosa only played in five games during the 2022 season and only nine last season due to injuries. The last of his four Pro Bowl selections came during the 2021 season.
Another funny thing.
Bosa returned to health, recovering from a hip injury, as did Mack injured his groin and was sidelined last week for the first time in his tenure with the Chargers. Bosa released the Chargers’ injury report on Friday and is scheduled to face the Baltimore Ravens on Monday night.
Mack was listed as questionable.
At some point, sooner or later, they will both be at something resembling 100%.
“That’s why we’re both here,” Mack said of teaming up with Bosa for the final seven games of the season and maybe more. “To put him on film, to go out and impact the game, him and me, Tuli, Bud and all the guys, it’s going to be special, man. I’m just looking forward to filming it without talking too much about it, getting out there, playing and getting a win.
Mack referenced Tuli Tuipulotu and Bud Dupree, his fellow outside linebackers.
“All I care about is getting a win,” Mack said.
The Chargers (7-3) have won four straight games, their longest streak since the final weeks of the 2022 season, when they rallied for a playoff spot only to fall apart. in epic fashion 31-30 against the Jacksonville Jaguars in an AFC wild card game. They last won five straight in 2018, en route to a 12-4 record.
Mack said he expected to play Monday against Baltimore, but couldn’t say whether he would be on an instant count, as Bosa was until he played 55 of 82 defensive snaps during Chargers win 34-27 last Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals, compared to about 20 snaps in the previous three games.
Additionally, Mack said it took a lot of convincing to keep him sidelined for the game against the Bengals. Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter and the Chargers’ athletic training staff ultimately swayed him even though he felt he would let his teammates down against Cincinnati.
Now, it may take a court order to prevent Mack from playing Monday.
“Man, that might have been the hardest thing I ever did, staying away,” Mack said. “I was trying to do as much coaching as possible. It was as nerve-racking as (expletive) sitting on the sidelines watching everything unfold and not being able to come out and help in any way.
“It was great to win, that’s all that matters.”
INJURY REPORT
The Chargers ruled out tight end Hayden Hurst (hip) and linebacker Denzel Perryman (groin) from Monday’s game due to injuries. Mack, outside linebacker Bud Dupree (foot), safety AJ Finley (ankle), cornerback Cam Hart (concussion/ankle), defensive back Deane Leonard (hamstring) and wide receiver Ladd McConkey (shoulder ) have been listed as likely to play.
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