Khalil Mack trying to deal with 'outside noise' amid trade rumors, Chargers' losing season

It was reported ahead of this past weekend that the Los Angeles Chargers had "shut down trade inquiries for their veteran" players, in part because general manager Joe Hortiz and head coach Jim Harbaugh appeared "unwilling to wave any sort of white flag" at that time. 

However, the fact that the Chargers fell to 0-7 on Sunday when they suffered a 24-9 loss to the Los Angeles Rams understandably sparked new questions about the futures of pass-rusher Khalil Mack and other Chargers players. After his team's latest defeat, Mack spoke with Eric Williams of Fox Sports about what may or may not happen before the Nov. 10 NFL trade deadline.

Khalil Mack trying to focus on where he is now, now where he may be

"You’ve got to be where your feet are man, ultimately," Mack said. "That can be the most difficult thing when you’re dealing with a lot of outside noise and stuff. Just trying to be where your feet are at all time. That’s kind of been my thing in years past." 

Mack, who is set to reach free agency after this season, tallied three sacks over the Chargers' first seven games of the campaign. On Oct. 30, Bucky Brooks of the NFL's website linked Mack with the Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears and Buffalo Bills. The Dallas Cowboys, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers are other teams listed as potential landing spots for a player such as Mack. 

Why Chargers may not put up the white flag this fall

Whispers have hovered over the Chargers since early October suggesting that team ownership could part ways with both Hortiz and Harbaugh if the ongoing season became an embarrassing mess for the organization. Thus, neither Hortiz nor Harbaugh may want to sell Mack at what likely wouldn't be all that high of a price before the evening of Nov. 10 arrives. 

That said, those running the Chargers may have to accept reality regarding the ongoing campaign if the club loses at home to the 2-5 Houston Texans on Nov. 8. As of Monday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Chargers as 5.5-point underdogs against the Texans.