Sports
Can Joey Bosa play Sunday after missing Chargers practice because of a back injury?
First he returned to the field. Now Joey Bosa is back on the injury report.
The Chargers’ star outside linebacker who has struggled with groin, hamstring and foot injuries in the last two seasons did not practice Thursday because of a back injury.
The Chargers practice in El Segundo on Friday before traveling to Charlotte, N.C., to face the Carolina Panthers at 10 a.m. PDT on Sunday. The final injury report will be released Friday afternoon.
After the Chargers’ 22-10 win over the Las Vegas Raiders last Sunday, Bosa was wearing a large bandage around his midsection to hold a bag of ice on his lower back. He was a limited participant during practice Wednesday.
Bosa, who was carted off the field in Week 11 last year because of a foot injury, entered training camp eager to prove he still is a Pro Bowl player.
Chargers linebacker Joey Bosa (97) celebrates after sacking Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew (15).
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
The sight of the 29-year-old chasing Raiders across the field at SoFi Stadium, racking up seven tackles with one sack and a forced fumble, confirmed Bosa’s potential when healthy.
“He’s that player,” coach Jim Harbaugh said this week. “You saw it in the production, the tackles, in the hustle, and he was great against the run and unblockable in the pass. I mean, huge game.”
Bosa’s return, coupled with a similarly dominant game by Khalil Mack, helped the Chargers make a stellar first impression under first-year defensive coordinator Jesse Minter. The former Michigan coordinator who followed Harbaugh to the pro ranks after helping the Wolverines to the national championship said having Bosa and Mack together and healthy was the thing “you’re kind of dreaming about.”
Mack also had a game-wrecking performance against the Raiders with three tackles, 1½ sacks, a fumble recovery and a tipped pass that led to an interception.
“They kind of drive the engine of our defense,” Minter said Thursday, “the way they play, the energy, the physicality, the key, key plays.”
Although Bosa and Mack make possibly the best edge-rushing duo in the NFL, the Chargers still have depth behind the Pro Bowl players with second-year player Tuli Tuipulotu and free-agent signing Bud Dupree. During the preseason, Bosa said it was like having two sets of starters on the edge. Minter even lined up all four together at points during Sunday’s win.
Thursday, the Chargers also were without safety Alohi Gilman, who missed practice for a second consecutive day because of a knee injury. Defensive back Ja’Sir Taylor (fibula) was working with strength staffers on the side and in the weight room.
Running back Hassan Haskins (toe), receiver Joshua Palmer (knee) and linebacker Denzel Perryman (thigh) were limited participants.
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If the Super Bowl marks the end of the NFL season, WrestleMania is when WWE’s year is over.
There is no offseason in WWE, and when waves of departures hit the company, it hits harder than a Gunther knife-edge chop.
Uncle Howdy, Erick Rowan, Dexter Lumis, Joe Gacy, and Nikki Cross appear during SmackDown at First Horizon Center in Savannah, Ga., on May 23, 2025. (Rich Freeda/WWE)
Fightful and BodySlam both reported several superstars who left WWE on Friday ahead of “Friday Night SmackDown.” Some wrestlers confirmed their departures on social media.
Those who left included: Alba Fyre, Aleister Black, Alex Shelley, Andre Chase, Apollo Crews, Bo Dallas, Chris Island, Chris Sabin, Dante Chen, Dexter Lumis, Erick Rowan, Joe Gacy, Kairi Sane, Luca Crusifino, Malik Blade, Nikki Cross, Santos Escobar, Sirena Linton, Trill London, Tyra Mae Steele, Tyriek Igwe, Tyson Dupont, Zelina Vegas and Zoey Stark.
The WWE roster is loaded as it is with several NXT stars getting called up this week.
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Sol Ruca made her presence felt on Raw on Monday when she challenged women’s champion Liv Morgan. The Fatal Influence faction of Jacy Jayne, Lainey Reid and Fallon Henley took aim at the women’s tag team division on SmackDown on Friday. Ricky Saints and Blake Monroe also had vignettes for their upcoming appearances.
Meanwhile, former NXT champion Oba Femi has been on main WWE programming for the last few weeks and beat Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 42.
Kairi Sane enters the ring during Monday Night RAW at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., on April 13, 2026. (Rich Freeda/WWE)
Aleister Black and Zelina Vega make their way to the ring during SmackDown at Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri, on April 3, 2026. (Craig Melvin/WWE)
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It’s not the end of the road for any of the recent departures. Several former WWE stars have made waves elsewhere. Some have even returned over the course of time.
Pitching coach Gus Rico was having dinner on Thursday when head coach Matt Mowry of Birmingham High complimented him on closer Aidan Martinez recording all seven of his outs on strikeouts.
“I had no idea,” Rico said. “Everything is a blur when I’m calling pitches.”
Martinez is throwing some blurs these days after returning this season following Tommy John surgery in June 2024. He touched 92 mph with his fastball and has been improving each week, getting better command and walking fewer batters. He has 28 strikeouts in 15 innings and three saves.
Birmingham is one game behind El Camino Real in the West Valley League standings going into showdown week, playing El Camino Real on Wednesday at on the road and Friday at home. The Patriots need a sweep to have a chance at their first league title under Mowry, who prefers winning City titles.
With Martinez throwing so well, it would be a good strategy for opposing teams to make sure they are leading going into the last two innings.
“He’s got a bright future,” Rico said.
This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.
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Earlier this month, Michigan defeated UConn in the NCAA men’s basketball national championship game.
Shortly after the Wolverines captured the program’s first title since 1989, Michigan forward Morez Johnson Jr. announced he would enter the NBA Draft.
Despite declaring for the NBA Draft, Johnson has maintained his NCAA eligibility throughout the process. However, he has until May 27 to withdraw if he plans to return for his junior season.
Johnson played for Illinois during the 2024-25 season before transferring to Michigan last offseason.
Michigan’s Morez Johnson Jr. walks on the court against UConn at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis April 6, 2026. (Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated)
After joining Michigan, Johnson quickly emerged as a key contributor, averaging the second-most points on the team. He also led the Wolverines in rebounding, averaging 7.3 per game.
Michigan head coach Dusty May eventually dubbed Johnson “The Enforcer” and “Junkyard Dog,” a nod to his tenacity on the defensive end. Johnson was named to the Big Ten’s All-Defensive Team.
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But Johnson’s offensive prowess didn’t take a back seat to his defensive strengths. His shooting from beyond the 3-point line showed improvement as the season progressed.
Morez Johnson Jr. of the Michigan Wolverines cuts down the net after defeating the UConn Huskies 69-63 in the 2026 NCAA national championship game in Indianapolis April 6, 2026. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Many early NBA projections gave Johnson a first-round grade. It’s unclear how much name, image and likeness (NIL) compensation he would command if he returns to Michigan or transfers elsewhere.
Johnson has been active on social media, interacting with teammates as they consider returning to Michigan for another championship push.
Morez Johnson Jr. of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates after scoring in the second half against the UConn Huskies during the 2026 NCAA national championship at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis April 6, 2026. (Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
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Michigan added a key piece this week, with Jalen Reed transferring from LSU, On3 reported. Reed was limited during the 2025-26 season by an Achilles injury.
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