Chargers’ good news on injuries: Mike Williams, Joey Bosa, Kenneth Murray Jr. seem OK

The Chargers acquired excellent news on Mike Williams’ again Monday as assessments revealed he has nothing extra critical than a contusion.

After providing the replace, coach Brandon Staley stated “the indication” given to him was that Williams will likely be accessible Saturday evening when the Chargers play at Jacksonville within the wild-card playoff spherical.

The group’s high deep menace at vast receiver, Williams was injured within the second quarter of a 31-28 loss at Denver on Sunday.

Williams needed to be carted to the locker room at halftime and wanted help strolling to the group bus after the sport. Staley stated Williams ought to have the ability to apply “sooner or later this week.”

If the Chargers are going to make a postseason run, the presence of Williams would appear virtually necessary. He’s the one possibility quarterback Justin Herbert has as a vertical weapon.

“He’s only a particular athlete, and he needs nothing however the perfect for this group,” Herbert stated earlier this season. “To have a man like that — a competitor, an athlete, a teammate like that — we’re higher off due to him.”

Throughout their three seasons collectively, Herbert and Williams usually have linked in essential, game-deciding moments.

They connected for a 35-yard achieve within the last 30 seconds of the Chargers’ Week 15 victory over Tennessee. Two performs later, Cameron Dicker kicked a 43-yard area purpose for a 17-14 win.

“I feel each quarterback has to have that participant — or gamers — that when it’s tight, he can throw the soccer to,” Staley stated. “Folks aren’t all the time open within the NFL. He’s a type of guys, when he’s intently guarded, you may be ok with placing him able to make a play.

“The NFL calls for a number of precision from quarterbacks, and I feel that the margin for error will increase whenever you throw it to Mike Williams. That’s all the time a giant factor.”

With a view to beat the Jaguars, the Chargers will want a major bounce-back efficiency from their protection, which crumbled towards the Broncos after 4 consecutive stable efforts.

The Chargers surrendered three passes of not less than 50 yards to Russell Wilson and 9 performs that gained 20 yards or extra. Denver entered as one of many league’s worst offenses.

Staley blamed the breakdowns on poor secondary play. Asante Samuel Jr., Alohi Gilman and Ja’Sir Taylor every gave up a giant go play, in line with Professional Soccer Focus.

Taylor, a rookie, crammed in Sunday for veteran slot cornerback Bryce Callahan, who was held out of the sport as a precaution. Callahan has been coping with a core-muscle damage for weeks. Staley stated he’ll return this week.

Staley additionally indicated that edge rusher Joey Bosa stays on tempo in his return from a core-muscle damage that value him 12 video games. Bosa performed 23 snaps towards Denver after enjoying 24 in his first recreation again in Week 17.

“We felt like he received sufficient snaps, each run recreation and go recreation, and enjoying in altitude,” Staley stated on Bosa. “We felt like he received a superb day’s work and was in a position to take one other step towards constructing for this week.”

After coping with meals poisoning in his return recreation, Bosa stated prematurely of going through the Broncos that he hoped to get a greater sense of his situation following his lengthy layoff.

Staley stated Bosa stays on observe there, as properly.

“The extra that he continues to apply, the extra that he’s going to develop that wind — that motor, that gasoline tank — to play like he’s used to enjoying,” Staley stated. “Having performed two video games, he’s going to be nearer to being himself, however he’s nonetheless working his means via it.”

The Chargers additionally misplaced inside linebacker Kenneth Murray Jr. towards Denver within the second quarter due to a stinger. Staley stated Murray will have the ability to apply this week.

And many others.

The Chargers’ 2023 opponents are set, with the dates and occasions to be decided later. Their house schedule: Denver, Kansas Metropolis, Las Vegas, Baltimore, Buffalo, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit and Miami. Their highway schedule: Denver, Kansas Metropolis, Las Vegas, Inexperienced Bay, Minnesota, New England, New York Jets and Tennessee.