Injuries are an inevitable part of football. Every team has to deal with injuries during the season and how a team responds is what makes them great. Despite this, the LA Chargers always seem to have worse luck than their peers around the league.
The 2022 season was full of injuries for the Chargers, and while most teams would have given up, the Bolts were able to hang on and make the playoffs. Fans were hoping the team would be injury free in 2023, but so far they have. Los Angeles is already dealing with unfortunate injuries, with Mike Williams out for the year and Corey Linsley on the NFI list with an inoperable heart problem. Once again, the Bolts must face and overcome adversity.
Fortunately, the start of the week came at a really good time, as it allowed the Chargers to get healthy. The Chargers have an extra day off thanks to Monday Night Football against the Dallas Cowboys, so plenty of impact players will be back in Week 6.
Injured Chargers players returning for Week 6 vs. Cowboys:
Derwin JamesÂ
 Derwin James was fouled in the Chargers’ Week 3 win over the Minnesota Vikings. James left the game in the fourth quarter, and at the time it didn’t seem like anything too serious and didn’t cause him to miss the game.
However, James did not suit up for the Bolts in Week 4 when the team was without Alohi Gilman and JT Woods. However, the Bolts managed to put together the best defensive efficiency of the team of the season (confirmed against a poor rookie quarterback).
James trained through Week 6 and said he was “back”. Expect him to make some big plays against the Cowboys. Austin Ekeler
Austin Ekeler hasn’t seen the field since Week 1 and that has affected the Chargers’ offense. While the Bolts were still able to put together good offensive plays, the offense sorely missed Ekeler’s presence in the backcourt.
The Chargers will be able to run the ball more against Dallas than they have in recent weeks, and the red zone should also see improvement. The Bolts have already jumped to being one of the best red zone teams in the league, so Ekeler’s return could be very dangerous for the Cowboys.
Donald Parham
Donald Parham suffered a wrist injury early in the game against the Las Vegas Raiders and looked very likely to miss the game. He probably would have missed the game if the Chargers had been played in Week 5, but the bye saved him in the end.
Parham was a full participant in training and should play. That’s big news because the Chargers’ tight end around him isn’t the best.
Injured Chargers unlikely to return in Week 6:
Joey Bosa
Joey Bosa didn’t practice at all for the Chargers until Week 6, and it’s safe to say he won’t play. Bosa injured his hamstring in Week 1 and therefore started in Weeks 2 and 3. Bosa then did not play in Week 4 and now has a toe injury.
The Chargers succeeded without Bosa, as Khalil Mack had a six-sack game against the Raiders, while Tuli Tuipulotu was a legitimate game-breaker.
Alohi GilmanÂ
Alohi Gilman also didn’t practice for the Bolts this week, and fans shouldn’t see him there. Fortunately, the Chargers got very good play from their backup quarterbacks in Week 4, so the defense can stay afloat without Gilman.
