Chargers Expert Questions if LA Defensive Rookie Sees Increased Snaps to Preserve Veterans

Could LA's new outside linebacker play a more significant role in 2023?

The Los Angeles Chargers are primed for a huge 2023 season, and it will all start on the defensive side of the ball. The Chargers' defense last season was atrocious, ranking among the bottom half in many defensive stats. They will look to turn that around, and they'll get some help as well. 

The Bolts struggled mightily with injuries all throughout the roster, but especially on defense. LA's edge rusher Joey Bosa missed most of the season along with their star corner J.C. Jackson. They hope all that changes in 2023, but if it does, they have some insurance with rookie outside linebacker Tuli Tuipulotu. 

Tuipulotu was selected by the Chargers with their second-round selection and the number 54 overall pick. He's coming from a big program at USC and will look to play a big role with the Bolts, which he may get, at least according to the Guilty as Charged podcast. 

Charger experts Steven Haglund and Tyler Schoon talked about the addition of Tuipulotu and questioned if he could play a big role to give their veterans like Bosa and Khalil Mack some snaps off to get them ready for a deep postseason run. 

Will the presence of Tuli Tuipulotu allow the Chargers to take some snaps away from Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack in order to keep them fresher on a week-to-week basis? What do you guys think?#BoltUp https://t.co/MjGna4IHVn pic.twitter.com/OE1zXq2yQT

— Guilty As Charged Podcast (@GACPodcast17) July 2, 2023

If the guys are healthy, then they should be out there, posing their dominance to the opposing team. However, you could never be too sure, and Tuipulotu could very well produce at a high level. 

The 20-year-old did it in college for three seasons in LA as a Trojan. He was named the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year and was a unanimous All-American. There's nothing he can't handle, and I'm sure he'll love to be on the field covering for Bosa or Mack as long as he can. 

The last thing LA needs is to suffer through another injury-riddled season, and if they do, that could spell trouble for some people in some high places.