The Los Angeles Chargers are facing uncertainty as they prepare for their upcoming matchup against the New Orleans Saints, with star edge rusher Joey Bosa listed as questionable for Sunday’s game. Bosa, who has been plagued by injuries this season, expressed his optimism about playing but expects to have a limited role.
This season, Bosa has been limited to just 56 snaps in three games due to a series of nagging back and hip issues. However, it was a glute strain that culminated in a debilitating sciatic nerve problem leading up to the Week 3 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers that has been causing him the most grief.
“The leg gave out during the game and the injury has caused some of the worst pain I’ve ever had,” Bosa revealed. Reflecting on the severity of the injury, Bosa lamented, “I definitely didn’t expect it to be as bad as it has been. And then it just kept dragging and dragging. Here we’re five weeks later, or however long it’s been, so it was tough.”
Injuries have unfortunately been a recurring theme for Bosa since the beginning of the 2022 season, keeping him predominantly in the training room rather than on the gridiron. With only 14 games played in the past two seasons combined and having already missed the last three games this year, Bosa’s absence has been deeply felt by the Chargers.
Recalling his standout performance in Week 1 against the Las Vegas Raiders, Bosa acknowledged his frustration at not being able to replicate that level of play due to his physical setbacks. “I feel like I’ve been letting my team down missing these games,” Bosa admitted. “Letting everybody down. Letting coaches down. Letting the organization down. Letting myself down, and it just sucks how these years have gone, the last few years.”
Amidst the challenges, Bosa credited the support of a therapist and his family for guiding him through the grueling rehabilitation process and ultimately facilitating his return to action. As he strives to overcome his injury woes and make a meaningful impact on the field once again, Bosa remains determined to contribute to his team’s success and fulfill the expectations placed upon him as a premier defensive player in the league.
