Los Angeles Chargers outside linebacker Khalil Mack (groin) did not practice all week and is listed as questionable for the Week 11 contest on Sunday night against the visiting Cincinnati Bengals. Meanwhile, defensive back Deane Leonard (hamstring) is also questionable after being limited in practice all week. Mack was active for the Week 10 win over the Tennessee Titans last Sunday, but he played only four defensive snaps in the victory. The 33-year-old veteran pass-rusher will probably be active again on Sunday night, but there's a good chance he'll be on a limited snap count yet again, making him one to avoid in starting fantasy lineups in IDP setups. The Bolts defense has been a popular streaming unit in recent weeks with a string of excellent matchups, but they should be faded in Week 11 against a rising Bengals offense that is getting receiver Tee Higgins (quadriceps) back.
Los Angeles Chargers defensive ends Khalil Mack (groin) and Joey Bosa (hip) are officially active for Week 10 against the Tennessee Titans. Both players had been listed as questionable. Mack is suiting up despite missing all three days of practice this week. He hasn't missed a game this season, amassing 26 tackles, 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery through eight contests. Bosa, meanwhile, was limited in practice all week long. Injuries have held him to reduced snap counts all season long, and he's still looking to return to his Week 1 form. In that season opener, he played 40 percent of the defensive snaps, registering seven tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble. Perhaps this week's game against subpar quarterback Will Levis will be a great opportunity for Bosa to get back on track.
Eight-time Pro Bowl defensive end and former NFL Defensive Player of the Year Khalil Mack will stay with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2024 and free up salary cap space for the team by agreeing to restructure his deal, according to sources. That wasn't the case for receiver Mike Williams, who was released on Wednesday. The 33-year-old Mack, the former fifth overall pick in 2014 by the Las Vegas Raiders out of Buffalo, had a career-high 17 sacks in 17 games for the Bolts in his second year with the team, adding 74 tackles (57 solo), 21 tackles for loss 22 QB hits, 10 passes defended and five forced fumbles as LA's most consistent pass-rusher. While fantasy managers in IDP leagues shouldn't expect a repeat in 2024, Mack showed last year that he can still be a disruptive pass-rushing force after previously not reaching double-digit sacks since 2018.
According to Diana Russini of The Athletic, the Chargers are open to moving on from linebacker Khalil Mack. The 33-year-old is coming off a monster season, totaling 74 tackles and five forced fumbles. He also had a career-high 17 sacks. Los Angeles would likely prefer to trade him to get something back. However, teams may wait things out, considering the Chargers could release Mack ahead of March 15, the day he would earn a $5.5 million roster bonus. But regardless of how Mack's relationship with the franchise comes to an end, he should have no issues finding work. That said, it will be hard for Mack to surpass his production from last season, especially since he spent most of the 2023-24 campaign without Joey Bosa, who was limited to just five games because of a groin injury.
Los Angeles Chargers edge rusher Khalil Mack had two sacks in the Chargers' win over the New York Jets on Monday night. Although Mack has had a sack in three games this season, he ranks fifth in the league with 9.0 sacks on the season because of his six-sack boom week. The veteran, who is in his second year with LA, also made three solo tackles and two assists and forced a fumble. He finished in the top 10 of all IDP scorers in Week 9. Next week, his matchup against the Detroit Lions will be more difficult, as the Lions are allowing sacks at a rate below the league average.
Khalil Mack Has Made Two Tackles in Past Two Weeks
Ever since Los Angeles Chargers edge rusher Khalil Mack came out of nowhere to make 6.0 sacks in Week 4, he has only made a single sack and just six combined tackles since then. Things have been even worse in the past two weeks. He has made no sacks and just one solo tackle and one assisted tackle. Week 9 (@NYJ) brings a favorable matchup for the Chargers' edge rusher, but can Mack take advantage of it? The Chargers face the Jets who have suffered multiple injuries and rank as the worst offensive line in PFF's Week 9 offensive line rankings. They have allowed a sack on almost 10% of their passing plays. Mack is a low floor IDP starter with a high ceiling this week.
Khalil Mack Could Get Back In Sack Column In Week 8
Los Angeles Chargers edge rusher Khalil Mack only registered a single tackle and a single QB hit last week after he had massive games in his previous two weeks. Mack was coming off a two-game sack streak, including a wild 6.0 sacks in Week 4. There is no reason to expect him to reprise those historic numbers, but he could make a sack and more QB hits in Week 8 against the Chicago Bears. The Bears' pass blocking grade of 58.9 ranks No. 20 in the league, and their offensive line has allowed a sack on 11.6% of passing plays, the fourth-highest rate. Tyler Bagent isn't as sack-prone as Justin Fields. But the Bears might also be forced to throw the ball often, as predicted, with the Bears being heavy underdogs in a game with an over/under of 46.5, so that should increase the total chances for Chargers pass rushers to go after Chicago's quarterback.
The Chargers and linebacker Khalil Mack agreed to a restructured contract. The transaction coincides with the team's other cost-saving measures, with Joey Bosa, Mike Williams, and Keenan Allen also getting their deals reworked. Mack, who was traded to the Bolts from the Bears last offseason, finished the 2022-23 campaign with 50 total tackles, eight sacks, and two fumble recoveries in 17 games, so he'll continue to draw interest from IDP managers. Nevertheless, with Los Angeles opening up some much-need salary cap space, the organization can focus on additional areas that require attention. Of course, the franchise will also prioritize signing Justin Herbert to a lucrative extension.
Los Angeles Chargers pass-rusher Khalil Mack (foot), who is coming off a foot injury that limited him to seven games last year with the Chicago Bears, will be ready for training camp next month, according to head coach Brandon Staley. Mack hasn't participated in full-speed individual drills at all this spring, but he has been on the field for 11-on-11 walk-throughs, including this week at mandatory minicamp. "Khalil is doing great out there," Staley said. "I think from when he got here to now, made a lot of progress." The 31-year-old edge rusher had just six sacks in his final season in Chicago in 2021, but the six-time Pro Bowler could bounce back in a big way opposite Joey Bosa in LA this year in one of the more talented all-around defenses in the league.
Los Angeles Chargers defensive end Khalil Mack (foot) could probably go at full speed right now, according to head coach Brandon Staley. He missed the end of last season due to a foot issue. However, he notched six sacks in seven games, while dealing with his banged up foot. The Chargers believe Mack should be ready for the beginning of next season. His presence and the addition of J.C. Jackson, and Sebastian Joseph-Day could make the Chargers an interesting defensive unit.
Khalil Mack
• OLB
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Chargers
