Week 5 Injury Report: Joey Bosa will play against Raiders

Fans of the San Diego Chargers, the moment has arrived! The number three overall draft pick, Joey Bosa, will suit up for the first time this Sunday against the Oakland Raiders. With Bosa having been a full participant in practice all week long, many suggested that this could be the week the bolts top draft pick steps on the playing field for the first time. That speculation was confirmed today by Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune.

It’s uncertain if Bosa will start the game against the Raiders, or even how many snaps how he will get, but nonetheless he will be on the field this Sunday.

And now for the rest of the Chargers injury report.

The Chargers should be getting at least one of their starting offensive linemen back this week. Starting left guard Orlando Franklin (Knee) was a full participant in Thursday and Friday’s practice, and he is not listed as “Questionable”. It should be safe to assume he will be on the field Sunday. Right tackle Joe Barksdale (Foot) practiced with a limited role Wednesday and Thursday, and practiced fully Friday. He is listed as “Questionable”.

The starting tackle on the opposite side of the line, King Dunlap (Illness), was also a full participant in Friday’s practice after getting limited work to start the week. He too is listed as “Questionable”. Hopefully, both Barksdale and Dunlap will be able to play, however, should one or both be held out, reserve tackle Chris Hairston (Groin) has practiced fully since Thursday and looks like he is good to go.

The secondary looks like it could be in for a rough time this week. With Jason Verrett going on IR the team needs all the help it can get at the corner position. Unfortunately, Brandon Flowers (Concussion) has been ruled out for Sunday’s game as he continues to work through the NFL’s concussion protocol. Second-year corner Craig Mager is listed on the injury report as “Questionable” with a shoulder injury. He was limited in practice on Thursday before being able to practice fully on Friday. He will be starting against the Raiders if he is able to play. Look for corners Steve Williams and Pierre Desir to get some work this week regardless of Mager’s status.

The linebackers are another group hit hard by injury. Starting inside linebacker Denzel Perryman (Shoulder) is listed as “Questionable”. He practiced on a limited basis Wednesday but was unable to participate at all during Thursday and Friday’s practices. Perryman’s backup, Nick Dzubnar, has not practiced all week with a knee injury and has been ruled out of Sunday’s game. Joshua Perry (Knee), the man listed behind Dzubnar, is listed as “Questionable”. Perry was limited in practice on Wednesday but was full-go on Thursday and Friday. Hopefully, Perry can suit up on Sunday, as his absence would leave Jatavis Brown and former Raider Korey Toomer as the only healthy inside linebackers.

Future Hall of Fame tight end Antonio Gates (Hamstring) practiced fully on Friday. He was limited during the Wednesday and Thursdays practices. Gates is a game-time decision against the Raiders.