Chargers’ pass rusher Khalil Mack sits out against Bengals with a groin injury – Orange County Register

INGLEWOOD – Outside linebacker Khalil Mack was sidelined for the first time in his Chargers tenure on Sunday, sitting out Sunday night’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals at SoFi Stadium due to a nagging groin injury suffered during a win two weeks ago against the Cleveland Browns .

Mack did not practice with his teammates during the week. He made just four appearances in the Chargers’ win over the Tennessee Titans last Sunday and found a spot on the bench as the team won its third straight game and improved its record to 6-3 in Sunday’s showdown with the Bengals.

“I have to take it one day at a time,” Mack said Thursday about the possibility of playing Sunday against Cincinnati. “I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself.”

Mack called his injury “unique” because he hurt the left side of his groin in the first half of the Chargers’ 27-10 win over the Browns and then injured the right side late in the game while trying to compensate for the initial injury. He staggered to the sideline late in the game and did not return.

“I’m just trying to get better every day,” said Mack, who missed his first game with the Chargers since they acquired him from the Chicago Bears on March 10, 2022.

Joey Bosa’s slow but steady return from a hip injury lightened the Chargers’ load at outside linebacker. Bosa has been limited to around 20 over the past three games, but his workload was expected to increase against the Bengals as his strength returns in his hip.

“Things are going well,” Bosa said on Friday. “Best week yet.”

The outside linebacker position is one of the Chargers’ deepest and most talented, with Mack, an eight-time Pro Bowl selection, and Bosa, a four-time selection, leading the way. They were ably supported by Tuli Tuipulotu, a second-year player from USC, and Bud Dupree, a veteran pass rusher.