Chargers News: Brandon Staley Reflects On Early Bye Week

LA's head coach weighs in.

Nov 27, 2022; Glendale, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Chargers head coach Brandon Staley reacts in the second half against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Los Angeles Chargers head coach Brandon Staley is unconcerned about the Bolts being dealt what some see as a bad hand in having to grapple with a bye week relatively early in the 2023 NFL season.

LA, the Cleveland Browns, the Seattle Seahawks, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will all get the earliest possible break this year, sitting out Week 5's action.

Per Jeff Miller of The Los Angeles Times, Staley is unconcerned about not getting his allocated time off later in the year. Miller notes that teams generally prefer having a break as late in the season as possible, when players have accrued more ailments and truly need a rest.

When Staley was serving as a Chicago Bears outside linebackers coach under then-head coach Matt Nagy in 2018, he noted that Chicago did stumble after returning from a Week 5 break. The Bears began the (then-16 game) regular season with a sparkling 3-1 record, dropped consecutive contests post-bye week, and then righted the ship to finish 12-4 on the year.

“That’s my experience to draw from,” Staley said. “I just know that … no matter what your bye is, we’ll be ready to play the schedule as it comes.”

Staley has enjoyed a successful stint with the Chargers thus far. After getting the head coaching gig in 2021, he eventually led the club to its first postseason berth in four years last season. Los Angeles is hoping to take another step towards hopeful Super Bowl glory in 2023, with or without an early bye week.