Los Angeles Chargers: 3 Vital statistics for 2019 season

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PITTSBURGH, PA – DECEMBER 02: Joey Bosa #99 of the Los Angeles Chargers rushes the pocket against Matt Feiler #71 of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first half during the game at Heinz Field on December 2, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

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In 2017, second-year defensive end Joey Bosa put together a Pro Bowl campaign for the Los Angeles Chargers. He started all 16 games for Anthony Lynn’s club and finished the year with 70 tackles, a team-best 12.5 sacks and four forced fumbles. The first defensive player taken in the 2016 NFL Draft certainly looked the part.

But after three seasons in the league, that marks the only time that the 6-5, 280-pound defensive specimen played in every game. His rookie season in 2016 was marred by a holdout and eventually a hamstring injury. He returned to play in the final 12 games that year finished with 41 stops and 10.5 quarterback traps.

This past season, a foot injury limited Bosa’s availability early in the year. He returned for the stretch run and came up with 5.5 sacks in the team’s final seven regular-season contests. He also corralled Ravens’ quarterback Lamar Jackson once in the Bolts’ Wild Card playoff win at Baltimore.

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But the bottom line here is that the three-year pro has been on the field in just 35 regular-season games in his brief career. He’s missed the first month or more of an NFL campaign twice. He and Melvin Ingram (who hasn’t missed an outing each of the last four seasons) make up one of the best pass-rushing tandems in the game when both are available. Bosa’s availability has been a bit of an issue to date.

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