Injuries were an issue during much of Joey Bosa‘s Chargers tenure. The high-profile edge rusher has already run into trouble on that front with the Bills.
Bosa pulled a calf while working out with the team, head coach Sean McDermott said on Tuesday (h/t Jay Skurski of the Buffalo News). McDermott added (via NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero) Bosa is not expected to be back until training camp. This obviously marks an unwanted development for team and player as the five-time Pro Bowler looks to begin a successful second chapter of his career.
After nine seasons with the Chargers, Bosa was released in a move which came as little surprise. The 29-year-old was retained on a pay cut agreement in 2024 in the wake of his missed time. Bosa played just 14 games across the 2022 and ’23 campaigns, although he managed to match that figure this past year. Los Angeles’ decision to move on resulted in multiple teams showing interest. A 49ers pact allowing for Bosa to play with his younger brother was explored, and his hometown Dolphins were among the suitors as well.
In the end, though, the Bills won out with a one-year deal. That $12.61MM pact contains $12MM in guarantees, so expectations will be high for Bosa in 2025. Buffalo moved on from Von Miller this offseason, and replacing his production as a veteran sack artist will be key along a defensive front which will feature plenty of new faces. Continuity will be found along the edge in particular, however, with Gregory Rousseau – one of several ascending players who received a long-term extension this spring – and A.J. Epenesa set to return in 2025.
Bosa has posted double-digit sacks four times in his career, but the most recent season in which that was the case was 2021. Since then, the Ohio State product has totaled 14 sacks; improvement in that department will be key if he is to operate as an effective starter with Buffalo. A critical factor in Bosa’s success will of course be his health, but things have not gone according to plan during the early stages of his Bills tenure.