The Los Angeles Chargers placed outside linebacker Joey Bosa on injured reserve Wednesday.
Bosa sustained a sprained right foot during the first quarter of Los Angeles’ 23-20 loss to the host Green Bay Packers on Sunday. He left the field on a medical cart and returned in the third quarter with a walking boot and crutches.
Bosa will sit out the team’s next four games due to Wednesday’s move. The Chargers will need to lean on rookie Tuli Tuipulotu in his absence.
Bosa, 28, has recorded 20 tackles, 6.5 sacks and one forced fumble in nine games (five starts) this season.
A four-time Pro Bowl selection, Bosa has totaled 321 tackles, 67.0 sacks, 15 forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries in 93 career games (84 starts).
He was selected by the Chargers with the third overall pick of the 2016 NFL Draft out of Ohio State.
Also on Wednesday, Los Angeles signed outside linebacker Andrew Farmer II to the active roster and fullback Zander Horvath to the practice squad.
Farmer, 23, has played in just one game in his NFL career. He had one tackle in the Chargers’ 24-17 win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Oct. 1.
“Those games, I had to gain confidence in myself because it was my first time starting in the league,” Tuipulotu said. “I needed to make sure I played hard and did my job so I could gain that confidence and be comfortable for times like this.”
Tuipulotu went from playing 33% of the defensive snaps in his debut against Miami to being on the field for at least 77% of plays in each of the next three weeks against Tennessee, Minnesota and Las Vegas, reaching a high of 86% in the win against the Raiders.
He had 15 tackles, five quarterback hits, three tackles for loss and two sacks in that three-game span, showing why the Chargers (4-6) drafted him 54th overall in the second round.
Defensive tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day said Tuipulotu’s mentality and work ethic allowed him to make an effective transition from college, where he was first in the FBS in sacks and second in tackles for loss as a junior at Southern California.
“First and foremost, I feel like Tuli is very mature for his age and for the opportunity he has,” Joseph-Day said.
“He does a really good job even in practice. He’s always the first one out there, getting extra reps, always knowing what he has to do.”
“His growth has been amazing. It isn’t surprising because of the way he goes about his business each and every day.”
Coach Brandon Staley praised the consistency of Tuipulotu, who has 31 tackles, eight tackles for loss and four sacks.
