Chargers clear Austin Ekeler, Joey Bosa expected to play vs Cowboys on MNF

Chargers running back Austin Ekeler hasn’t played in a month because of a sprained ankle but after several days of practice at full-go, the team expects to have him available for Monday night’s game against the 3-2 Dallas Cowboys, according to NFL insider Tom Pelissero.

On top of the return of the running back, the Los Angeles Chargers also reportedly expect edge rusher Joey Bosa and wide receiver Joshua Palmer to play on Monday on the West Coast. Bosa was dealing with a toe injury while Palmer nursed a groin injury.

In Ekeler’s only appearance this season, he posted 117 rushing yards on 16 carries with a touchdown. His longest run was for a 55-yard gain. Last year, he had a career-high 13 rushing touchdowns on 204 carries with 915 rushing yards. He also added 107 receptions for 722 yards and another five touchdowns.

Joey Bosa, who hasn’t played a game yet in the month of October, has six tackles, including three sacks, in three games this year. Last week, his brother Nick Bosa posted a half-sack against Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott.

Unlike Dallas, Los Angeles is benefitting from a bye week in Week 5. On the flip side, the Cowboys are coming off of a brutal Week 5 loss to the 49ers that saw them lose multiple players to injury.

Cowboys clear injury list for Monday night

The Cowboys need a big bounce back after their dreadful showing against the 49ers last Sunday. And when they hit the West Coast for the MNF game with the Chargers, they’ll be relatively healthy. Though the injury report started out with over a dozen names on it on Wednesday, the team managed to whittle it down to just a few by Saturday.

The only players who should miss the game are linebacker Leighton Vander Esch (neck) and special team star C.J. Goodwin (torn pectoral). Both players are facing at least several weeks of game inactivity. Dallas moved Vander Esch to IR, meaning at least four weeks off.

On Saturday’s report, defensive back Juanyeh Thomas, a backup safety, was the only player listed as doubtful for the game against the Chargers.

“I think our health has trended in the right direction,” Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy told reporters in a Saturday teleconference. “I don’t have high concern for many of these guys.”

Offensive lineman Chuma Edoga, who is sick with an unspecified illness, is questionable for the Week 6 game. However, McCarthy said the backup lineman is expected to be back by Sunday.