Chargers' Khalil Mack exits Monday night game with apparent arm injury
Veteran linebacker left Monday’s road game against the Raiders with his left arm in a sling; team says he will undergo imaging
Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Khalil Mack left Monday night’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders with a visibly injured left arm after a tackle late in the first quarter, and was ruled out as the contest continued.
Mack and teammate Troy Dye were pursuing Raiders receiver Tre Tucker when Mack’s left arm appeared to become trapped under Dye as both defenders attempted to bring down the ball carrier. Mack immediately left the field as the first quarter ended; he was later seen on the sideline with his pads off and his arm in a sling. The Chargers initially listed him as questionable to return with an elbow injury before changing his status to out.
Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh said the team planned imaging tests to evaluate Mack’s arm. Harbaugh did not provide a timetable for when results would be available or how long Mack might be sidelined, and the team did not immediately provide further detail after the game. The Chargers won the game 20-9 in Las Vegas.
Mack, a veteran pass rusher who joined the Chargers in a 2022 trade from the Chicago Bears, was the team’s leading veteran presence on a defense that ranked first in points allowed and 11th in yards allowed last season. He earned his ninth Pro Bowl selection last season, his fourth straight with the Chargers, and played in 16 games in 2024, compiling six sacks, 39 tackles, nine pass breakups and two forced fumbles.
The Chargers listed Bud Dupree and Kyle Kennard as Mack’s backups on their depth chart. Losing Mack for an extended period would remove a key veteran from a unit that helped Los Angeles reach the playoffs last season with an 11-6 record and a wildcard berth.
Mack was instrumental early in the game, including a first-half sack, according to game reports. The club will await imaging and medical evaluations to determine the injury’s severity and any roster moves that may follow. NFL teams commonly wait for imaging before providing more detailed injury updates.
The Chargers’ medical staff and front office will monitor Mack’s status in the coming days. The team’s next public injury update is expected after the imaging results and any further examinations by specialists.
Mack, widely regarded as one of the top linebackers of his era and named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s All-2010s Team, has been a consistent presence on the Chargers’ defense since the trade that brought him to Los Angeles in 2022. The club’s performance this season and depth at pass rusher will be tested if he is sidelined for multiple games.