Chargers Insider Uncertain About Key Defensive Linemen's Role

Could these two guys stay healthy and play a big role for the Bolts in 2023?

The 2022 Los Angeles Chargers are remembered for their disastrous blown Iead in the AFC Wild Card game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. It was an embarrassing moment and an all-time low for the franchise and its fans. 

However, people within the organizations and fans know the underwhelming season they experienced in 2022 is because of... you guessed it, injuries. 

Multiple star Charger players missed a hefty amount of time simultaneously, which really hampered what LA could've been. Aside from LA's star players, other starters, like Chargers defensive linemen Austin Johnson and Otito Ogbonnia, missed time. 

Both missed significant time in 2022, and we have yet to see them during spring practices. They can potentially do some damage on their end if they stay healthy, but Chargers insider Daniel Popper questions if they can be ready by the start of the season. 

In the defensive trenches, Johnson and Ogbonnia are the biggest question marks. Johnson suffered a fractured knee and MCL injury in Week 9. Ogbonnia ruptured his patellar tendon a week later. Neither participated in spring practices as they continued their rehabs. Will they be ready for the start of the season? If both players are back, the Chargers would have a pretty deep and versatile interior defensive line group. Without them, they are pretty thin and would need big contributions from rookie sixth-round pick

Scott Matlock

and free-agent acquisition

Nick Williams

.

(via The Atheltic)

Johnson only played eight games in 2022 in his first season in LA and recorded 21 solo tackles, one assist, and one sack, and received a grade of 55.9, according to PFF. 

Ogbonnia only played seven games, starting in one of them and recording 13 solo tackles, four assists, and received a grade of 43.2. 

As you can tell, neither of them held their own when they were healthy, and that hurt LA in a big way. The key for these two and the entire team is health. That can't be stressed enough, as they have a big season ahead of them, with many expecting them to do good and others expecting them not to do so well. 

We'll look to see how Johnson and Ogbonnia perform during training camp, and hopefully, they will be healthy.