Chargers rookie DE Joey Bosa unlikely to play in season opener vs. Chiefs

Joey Bosa missed all of training camp and the preseason because a lengthy contract dispute with the San Diego Chargers. The holdout cost him valuable practice time and it’s going to have a significant impact on the start to his rookie season.

Chargers general manager Tom Telesco said on XTRA 1360 Tuesday that Bosa is unlikely to play in Sunday’s opener due to a minor hamstring injury.

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Hamstrings can be tricky in the NFL, particularly for a defensive end who’s using power from his legs to get a jump off the line and beat tackles to the edge. There’s no way to say for sure, but it’s entirely possible that the injury was the result of Bosa missing so much practice time.

Of course, Bosa would love to be out there and the Chargers would prefer to have him on the field, but they’re taking into account his long-term future for the season and beyond.

"I know Joey's desire to play is very, very high, but we need to be smart about it, too," Telesco said.

The San Diego Chargers are set to take on the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday in the season opener, but it sounds like they’ll do so without their top rookie.