Los Angeles Chargers: 5 burning questions in 2018

Los Angeles Chargers: 5 burning questions for 2018

CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 24: A Cleveland Browns helmet site on the sideline during the second quarter of the National Football League game between the San Diego Chargers and Cleveland Browns on December 24, 2016, at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, OH. Cleveland defeated San Diego 20-17 to win their first game of the season. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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September 25, 2016: San Diego Chargers linebacker Manti Te’o (50) is helped off the field after getting injured during the NFL game between the San Diego Chargers and Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN. (Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

1. Will the injury bug bite again?

Peanut butter and jelly. Yin and Yang. Chargers and injuries. Oops, just thought we were naming things that go together. Injury-plagued seasons have been the unfortunate reality for the Chargers in the last two seasons. Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Forrest Lamp, Manti Te’o and Denzel Perryman are just a few key players to hit the injured reserve in the last two years.

Injuries are always a given in the NFL. Football, by nature, is a physical sport that results in a lot of various injuries. However, it is uncommon for a team to be hit this hard by injuries in consecutive seasons. In 2016, the Chargers had 15 players spend the entire season on the injured reserve, with even more landing on the list throughout the season. That’s an absurd amount.

In 2017 the number of players who spent all 16 games on the IR dropped to five, but the names were bigger. First round draft pick Forrest Lamp tore his ACL and missed the entire year.

Add in pivotal players such as Denzel Perryman who missed eight games and Jason Verrett who missed 15, and the team really begins to hurt. Not to mention rookie Mike Williams who missed half of the season and never found his rhythm. That is some pretty awful luck.

Next: 5 burning questions for the Raiders

In 2018, that narrative needs to change for the Chargers to find success. Unfortunately, this season didn’t get off to a great start as talented tight end Hunter Henry tore his ACL and will miss the entire season. Despite the bad start, there is still hope for the Chargers. If the team stays healthy, or at least relatively healthy, they will be a force to be reckoned with in the AFC. But that is a big if.

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