The Los Angeles Chargers have brought linebackers Khalil Mack and Denzel Perryman off of injured reserve. The signing of the duo leaves it wide open for their thrilling return to action on the field this Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts. Their absence has been felt significantly, particularly in run defense, as the Chargers have struggled to contain opposing rushing attacks since their sidelining.
Linebacker Khalil Mack left the game with an elbow injury during the Chargers’ Week 2 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. In one of the most unfortunate plays of the game, he reached on a diving tackle attempt during the first quarter. His left hand ended up sandwiched between teammate Troy Dye and Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker. This unfortunate placement led to a horrific elbow injury that caused him to miss out on games in the following seasons.
Denzel Perryman came away with a nasty ankle injury from the Chargers’ Week 1 drubbing of the Kansas City Chiefs. His injury largely overshadowed an otherwise exhilarating game. His contributions were missed further too, as the defense was put into a bad position on stopping the run without their two interior key players.
In the time Mack and Perryman have been out, the Chargers’ defensive unit as a whole has contended tremendously with bad rushing attacks. They’ve yielded a whopping 579 rushing yards since Week 3, the sixth-most in the NFL. For reference, just how bad the team’s defensive performance has cratered. Before Mack landed on injured reserve, they were giving up the ninth-fewest rushing yards.
Beyond their numbers, their return timing is very important. First, they looked ahead to their matchup with the Indianapolis Colts, who feature the league’s top rusher in Jonathan Taylor. Taylor’s 603 rushing yards this season and his seven rushing touchdowns make him a daunting opponent. Putting up over 100 yards rushing on average at 100.5, he’s a nightmare for any defense.
Los Angeles is going to need Mack and Perryman to shore up that shaky defensive front. Together, they will be key to slowing down the Colts’ vaunted run game. The team’s top priority remains providing a better run defense on the field. More significantly, they want to improve their baseline, day-to-day defensive play as they look ahead.
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