Khalil Mack exits Chargers’ win with left elbow injury; imaging scheduled

Khalil Mack suffered a left elbow injury in the first quarter of the Los Angeles Chargers’ 20-9 Monday Night Football victory over the Las Vegas Raiders and will undergo imaging Tuesday, coach Jim Harbaugh said.

Mack, a 12th-year veteran, was injured while attempting to tackle Raiders receiver Tre Tucker. After extending his left arm, Mack collided with teammate Troy Dye and his elbow bent at an unnatural angle. He left the field in visible pain, went to the locker room and was initially listed as questionable before the team downgraded him to out. Mack later returned to the bench wearing a brace and watched the remainder of the game.

"We’ll get some imaging tomorrow and see where that takes us," Harbaugh said after the game.

The Chargers’ defense continued to carry the team early in the season, limiting Las Vegas to 218 total yards while recording three sacks and multiple takeaways. Mack registered one of those sacks — his first of the season — bringing his career total to 108½. The win followed a Week 1 performance in which Los Angeles held Kansas City to 21 points.

Safety Derwin James, who has been vocal about the team’s bond, said teammates rallied for Mack after the play.

"We want to pick it up for him," James told ESPN after the game. "He even told us — I said, ‘Dang, Mack, you’re out.’ He say, ‘Come on, DJ, keep going.’ He wanted us to go keep finishing the game, we love him so much and we’re going to have his back…"

Mack’s potential absence would be a significant loss for a Chargers unit that has been a major reason Los Angeles sits atop the AFC West. The defense has pressured opposing quarterbacks and limited yardage consistently through the first three weeks. Mack’s presence as a veteran pass rusher and the production he provides on third-down situations remain important components of the Chargers’ front.

The team is already operating without starting left tackle Rashawn Slater, who suffered a season-ending injury during training camp. Los Angeles faces the Denver Broncos at SoFi Stadium on Sunday before traveling to MetLife Stadium to play the New York Giants in Week 4. Harbaugh did not provide a timetable for Mack’s return, noting that the team would wait for the results of the imaging and further medical evaluation.

The Chargers’ defensive depth will be tested if Mack is forced to miss time. Los Angeles generated pressure from multiple players against the Raiders, and coordination between defensive linemen and linebackers will be emphasized in practice as the team prepares for consecutive home and road tests. Harbaugh and the medical staff said they would have additional information following Tuesday’s imaging.

Mack, 34, remains one of the NFL’s most accomplished pass rushers. The immediate medical evaluation will determine whether he requires further treatment and what, if any, short-term roster moves the Chargers might consider as they navigate their AFC West schedule.