Chargers scouting report: LA planning to add defensive players before facing Chiefs

If there has been one constant for the Chargers this season it’s been injuries.

The Chiefs’ AFC West rival has been dealing with a rash of injured players and the latest example came in the Chargers’ 22-16 loss to the 49ers on Sunday.

Defensive linemen Christian Covington and Otito Ogbonnia both were injured and are either out for the season or likely to miss the rest of the season. The Chargers ended the game with only three defensive linemen, as the Los Angeles Times noted.

Each week, I take an early look at the Chiefs’ next opponent, and here is a quick scouting report of the Chargers. Kickoff on Sunday is at 7:20 p.m., and the game will air on KSHB (Ch. 41).

The records

LA has a 5-4 record, while the Chiefs, 7-2, are in first place in the AFC West.

Kansas City leads the all-time series 66-58-1, and hasn’t lost a road game against the Chargers since 2013 when they were in San Diego. That’s eight straight wins for the Chiefs in California, and the last two have been in overtime.

The injuries

The injures to Covington and Ogbonnia came days after Chargers released defensive lineman Jerry Tillery. So now the team is now searching for help at the position group.

“We’ll have to work through that over the next 36 hours,” coach Brandon Staley told reporters on Monday. “We’ll probably make some acquisitions, and then promote Joe (Gaziano, a defensive lineman) at some point this week. We have him currently on our team. We’ll be working over the next 36 hours to make a couple of acquisitions to get us to full strength.”

Staley added: “I think we’re trying to mine the entire NFL and try to find the best fits. Maybe, we have relationships at certain places or maybe they’ve played in certain styles that are similar to ours and try to leverage all of your relationships to make good decisions, and bring guys in here that are healthy, that are ready to play football and you feel like can contribute at a winning level.”

Joey Bosa, who had surgery in September for a groin injury, is one of 11 Chargers on injured reserve.

The defense

One player the Chiefs will need to watch for is linebacker Khalil Mack, who has seven sacks in his first season with the Chargers.

LA is 29th in the NFL in scoring defense, allowing 25.3 points per game. The Chargers pass defense is ranked 13th, giving up 209.3 yards per game through the air. Opponents have scored on 42.4% of their drives against the Chargers, the fifth-highest rate allowed in the NFL.

The offense

The Chargers are 16th in the league in scoring (22.2 points per game), but could receive a boost as Staley told reporters wide receivers Mike Williams (ankle injury) and Keenan Allen (hamstring) will be back at practice this week. However, Staley didn’t say if one or both would be able to play against the Chiefs.

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert has attempted an AFC-high 386 passes and he’s sixth in the NFL with 2,450 passing yards.

Running back Austin Ekeler has a nose for the end zone. His 10 touchdowns (six rushing, four receiving) are second in the NFL behind the Browns’ Nick Chubb. Ekeler has rushed for 451 yards this season (4.3 yards per attempt).

Special teams

The Chargers have made 16 straight field goals, which is a reversal from the team’s kicking woes in recent history. LA has allowed just 36 yards total on punt returns this season, which is second to Buffalo in the NFL. The Chargers are fifth in kickoff return yardage allowed.