San Diego Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa has been dealing with a hamstring injury all week, and the 2016 third-overall will likely miss the season opener.
According to ESPN’s Eric D. Williams, Chargers general manager Tom Telesco commented on Bosa’s status on a radio interview with XTRA 1360 FOX Sports Radio.
“Obviously, we’re not optimistic right now,” Telesco said. “It truly is a day-to-day injury. It’s a minor hamstring, and our goal is to make sure it doesn’t turn into something long-term.”
The Chargers will be overly cautious with Bosa. After a 31-day holdout, the Chargers weren’t able to get Bosa signed to a deal until Aug. 29. As a result, Bosa missed the majority of training camp, a valuable time for a rookie.
“For us, we have to make sure that we don’t try and put four weeks of work into two or three days,” Telesco told the Chargers’ website, according to Williams. “So we have to be smart with this and gradually move him into the process.”
Bosa’s ability to immediately adapt to the NFL with such little training was even an immediate concern for the Chargers before he even signed his four-year, $25.8 million deal. On Aug. 24, days before Bosa would sign his contract, the Chargers released the following statement regarding the situation:
“The offer that we extended was for Joey to contribute during all 16 games and beyond. Joey’s ability to contribute for an entire rookie season has now been jeopardized by the valuable time he has missed with his coaches and his teammates. Since Joey will not report at this time, his ability to produce not just early in the season, but throughout the entire season, has been negatively impacted.”
Bosa, the 2014 Bill Willis Trophy recipient (given to the top defensive lineman in the NCAA), recorded 26 sacks in three seasons with the Ohio State Buckeyes. Bosa won the 2015 national championship with the Buckeyes.
• Tommy Chalk can be reached at tchalk@washingtontimes.com.
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