The Los Angeles Chargers have a dichotomy on their hands. They are one of the league’s best defenses while generating a pressure percentage of just 15.5, good for second to last in the National Football League. That looked like it was about to get even worse when Khalil Mack, the teams leading pass rusher, was listed on the injury report on the Week 10 injury report. He did not practice that week, but was active — yet only played a minimal amount of snaps. He missed Week 11’s practices leading into the teams game against the Cincinnati Bengals, as well and did not get on the field for even one snap, as he was inactive.
Tuli Tuipulotu Passes Khalil Mack For Most Chargers QB Pressures
But Tuli Tuipulotu has risen to the challenge of replacing the eight time Pro Bowler. With Mack out, Tuipulotu’s snap count has ballooned to a career high and he has risen to the occasion. In the two games he has played for Mack, he has tallied 15 pressures and three and a half sacks — doubling his numbers in both of those categories.
The Chargers desperately needed someone, not only to fill in for their top pass rusher, but also someone to step into the role for the future of the franchise. Joey Bosa as struggled to stay on the field because of injuries and Mack will be 34 heading into next season, not to mention he has a void year on his contract, which means he has likely one last opportunity to cash in on his football career.
With this last two game surge, Tuipulotu has pulled ahead of Mack in quarterback pressures and sacks, leading the team in both. His eight sacks is tied for the most among second year defenders and fifth among all defenders.
In just his second season as a former second round draft pick the Chargers will have two relatively cheap seasons with the former USC Trojan.
