The Los Angeles Chargers are set to be without a cornerstone of their offensive line for a large part of this NFL season after placing Pro Bowl center Mike Pouncey on the injured reserve list.
Pouncey sustained a neck injury, whose official diagnosis has yet to be announced by the team, during the team’s loss to the Denver Broncos over the weekend.
Due to being placed on injured reserve, Pouncey will not be eligible to return to the team until the Chargers’ Week 14 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. It’s unknown if the severity of the injury will prevent him from coming back this year.
Pouncey made the Pro Bowl in 2018 and was then released by the Miami Dolphins in an offseason budget tightening move. He then joined Los Angeles, for whom he started all 16 games last season.
The Chargers now find themselves short on depth on the offensive line, as they are missing both Pouncey and left tackle Russell Okung (pulmonary embolism).
The team signed former Bills center Ryan Groy in order to cover Pouncey’s absence, but left guard Dan Feeney is expected to start at center for the meantime.
Los Angeles will now cross their fingers and hope that their starting center can rejoin the team before the end of the season.
