Chargers’ pass rusher Khalil Mack sits out vs. Bengals with groin injury

INGLEWOOD — Outside linebacker Khalil Mack was sidelined Sunday for the first time in his Chargers tenure, sitting out Sunday night's game against the Cincinnati Bengals at SoFi Stadium because of a nagging groin injury suffered in a victory two weeks ago against the Cleveland Browns.

Mack didn't practice with his teammates during the week. He played only four snaps during the Chargers' victory last Sunday over the Tennessee Titans, finding a seat on the bench as the team won its third consecutive game and improved its record to 6-3 going into Sunday's showdown with the Bengals.

"Gotta take it one day at a time," Mack said Thursday of the possibility of playing Sunday against Cincinnati. "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 victory over the Browns and then injured the right side late in the game while attempting to compensate for the initial injury. He limped to the sideline late in the game and didn't return.

"Just trying to get better every day," said Mack, who missed his first game with the Chargers since they acquired him March 10, 2022 from the Chicago Bears.

Joey Bosa's slow but steady return from a hip injury eased the Chargers' burden at outside linebacker. Bosa was on a snap-count limit of roughly 20 over the past three games, but it was expected that his workload would increase against the Bengals as his strength returned in his hip.

"Doing good," Bosa said Friday. "Best week so far."

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 have been capably backed up by Tuli Tuipulotu, a second-year player from USC, and Bud Dupree, a veteran pass rusher.

The Chargers combined for 18 sacks during their three-game winning streak over the Titans, Browns and New Orleans Saints. They had seven sacks against the Titans, six against the Browns and five against the Saints. Tuipulotu had a team-leading 5.5 sacks and Mack had 4.5 going into Sunday.

"It's going to be a hell of a game," Mack said of facing the Bengals.

ROSTER REPORT

Chargers wide receiver DJ Chark Jr. and tight end Hayden Hurst were healthy scratches from the lineup. Neither was on the injury report Friday. Chark debuted in their victory over the Titans, but he was credited with playing only one snap. His season was delayed because of injuries.