Chargers News: LA Provides Positive Injury Updates on Starting Linemen

They both suffered scary knee injuries in 2022.

Your Los Angeles Chargers have finally received some positive injury updates after not hearing many new details about how J.C. Jackson is coming along. It appears that two defensive lineman who's seasons were cut short last year are set to be suiting up in 2023.

Both Austin Johnson and Otito Ogbonnia had to undergo knee surgeries despite both being in their 20's and fans have been waiting for their defensive anchors to return. LA has had clear issues on that end since they went down.

However, Chargers GM Tom Telesco shared some great news regarding Johnson's and Ogbonnia's recovery processes in a media session at the annual league meetings.

austin johnson 👏 pic.twitter.com/fUSsdS8WxG

— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) October 23, 2022

"Telesco said defensive linemen

Austin Johnson

and

Otito Ogbonnia

— who both suffered significant knee injuries in the middle of last season — are “going to be playing this year.” Telesco did not have a specific timeline but said he is “optimistic that they’re on track right now.”

(Via Daniel Popper)

Johnson was diagnosed with an MCL sprain and knee fracture just eight games into his 2022 campaign. Prior to this, he had recorded 22 tackles and three quarterback hits. He has been in the NFL since 2016 and it will be his second season with LA.

A knee injury also ruined Ogbonnia's plans to dominate the defensive line as a rookie. He suffered a patellar tendon rupture just a week after Johnson's injury and immediately was put on the IL for the remainder of the year. Prior to this, he had suited up for seven games while accumulating 14 tackles and slowly appearing in more and more snaps.

Here is hoping to even speedier recoveries for both of our guys !