Chargers Pro Bowl DE Joey Bosa could clear COVID protocol ahead of Steelers game

The 5-4 Los Angeles Chargers were handed a significant setback ahead of Sunday's prime-time home game versus the 5-3-1 Pittsburgh Steelers when star pass-rusher Joey Bosa and defensive tackle Jerry Tillery were added to the reserve/COVID-19 list Tuesday.  

There's now some clarity on whether or not at least one of those players could be available this weekend. 

According to Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk, Chargers head coach Brandon Staley confirmed Wednesday that Bosa landed on the list as a high-risk close contact of an infected person. Per NFL rules, this means Bosa is not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 but that he could potentially return to team activities in five days and in time to face the Steelers as long as he repeatedly tests negative for the coronavirus. 

Any unvaccinated player who tests positive for COVID-19 must isolate away from his club for a minimum of 10 days and then be cleared to play. Tillery's status for Sunday wasn't announced.