Matt Feiler returns to aid Chargers’ thin offensive line

COSTA MESA — Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert praised his offensive line’s toughness after the team’s frustrating loss against the Denver Broncos last weekend.

Not many outside of the Chargers’ organization agreed with Herbert’s assessment of the offensive line’s performance in Denver, but his words might have best summarized the predicament the team faced in the pivotal AFC West matchup.

“I thought the offensive line did a great job battling all game,” Herbert said. “They gave me plenty of time to get the ball off and those guys battled all game. So I really feel appreciative about those guys.”

Left tackle Rashawn Slater, center Corey Linsley and three backup offensive linemen battled for Herbert. Sometimes that’s the most you can ask for when an offensive line is decimated by injuries and lacking depth.

Left guard Matt Feiler tried to play with an injured ankle, but the team decided to play it safe and asked Senio Kelemete to fill in. Kelemete was on San Francisco’s practice squad when the Chargers acquired him in October after starting right guard Oday Aboushi sustained a season-ending torn ACL.

Michael Schofield, who filled in for Aboushi, was signed in September after starting right tackle Bryan Bulaga was placed on injured reserve in Week 2. Bulaga, who hasn’t played since the season opener in Washington, was replaced by Storm Norton, who had three career starts before this season.

Herbert was sacked three times and hit 10 times by the Broncos behind a starting offensive line that featured Schofield, Norton and Kelemete. With the given context, those numbers shouldn’t be too surprising, and it made matters worse when the Chargers’ first drive started at the 1-yard line and after they trailed 14-0 in the second quarter.

“Justin, I felt like, was doing a good job of managing the pocket,” Chargers coach Brandon Staley said. “When there’s that consistent push, then you’re not going to be sitting in there waiting for routes to get open, you have to get going. I just feel like we have to do a better job of staying ahead of the game.”

If the Chargers win the coin toss Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals, Staley might opt to take the ball first to avoid what happened against the Broncos.

Taking an early lead is one way the Chargers could help their thin offensive line, but the return of Feiler will be a significant help this weekend. Feiler was removed from the final injury report and practiced the entire week.

“He’s one of our best players,” Staley said. “It’ll mean a great deal. You saw last week what he means to us. I think sometimes you see the value of people when they’re not there, and I think he certainly fits that description. He’s had a good week of practice and shown real toughness, and he gives us a really, really good chance for us to be our best offense.”

There’s also a chance Bulaga, who had core muscle surgery in October, returns to practice in the coming weeks. Staley said he’s hopeful that Bulaga plays again this season.

“Bryan’s working hard,” Staley said. “I don’t know when the initiation of that timeframe will be, in terms of that (21-day practice) window, but he’s been working hard. He’s been out on the grass with our training staff and our performance staff. We’re hopeful. I think we’re right toward the end of, maybe, initiating that timeframe. I know that it means a lot to him. I’ve been really pleased with how he’s attacked it. Hopefully, we’ll get good news here soon.

“We’re going to see, but my expectation is that he’s back. I think we have to let his health tell us the story. That’s his hope. That’s my hope. It’s our expectation. He’s been working closer to that point.”

If Bulaga, 32, returns to the field, it’s probably best for the team not to expect him to play the rest of this season and possibly in the playoffs. Bulaga only completed five of 10 games played for the Chargers last season, and the 12-year veteran missed the second half against Washington in the season opener.

But if Bulaga is able to play a few games, that could give Norton a break to better contribute down the stretch. Norton has started the past 10 games.

Despite the rough stretches, Herbert and the Chargers have made it work for the most part with Norton and Schofield starting next to Slater, Linsley and Feiler.

“Those guys battle every week,” Chargers offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi said of Norton and Schofield. “They’re pros. There’s something comforting knowing what you’re going to get out of a player and knowing how to plan around their strengths and their limitations. Everyone in the NFL has a bad rep or two, and I know that those get highlighted sometimes, but I think that those guys are giving us everything that they have. They’re playing well enough for us to play winning football.”

Asking three backup offensive linemen to start, like last week in Denver, is when the Chargers’ lack of depth begins to hinder them.

Rookie offensive lineman Brenden Jaimes, this year’s fifth-round pick, isn’t ready to start in games, according to Staley and Lombardi. Offensive tackle Trey Pipkins, the team’s 2019 third-round pick, hasn’t panned out and has been a healthy scratch for a handful of games.

“There’s really a developmental process with those guys,” Lombardi said of young offensive linemen. “We had a number of practice squad guys (with the New Orleans Saints) that ascended to be real good starters. That’s one of the major jobs of an O-line coach, developing those young guys that might not be ready as a rookie. It’s such an experience job and such a developmental job being an offensive lineman for most guys.

“There are exceptions like Rashawn that just come in ready to plug in and play, but most of those guys take a year or two to get a little more strength in the weight room and work on their fundamentals and their technique, just knowledge of the game and anticipation of what’s going to happen. That usually takes a little bit of time.”

The Chargers scored with Slater in the draft and signed Linsley, Feiler and Aboushi to form a stout starting offensive line, but the backup O-line plans have hurt the team since its 4-1 start.

They’ll need to address the offensive line depth in the offseason, but for now, the Chargers will have to battle with what they have available.

JOSEPH OUT FOR SUNDAY

Chargers defensive tackle Linval Joseph will be out Sunday against the Bengals, according to Staley.

Joseph has met the 10-day quarantine requirement for testing positive for COVID-19, but the Chargers don’t want to rush the 6-foot-4, 329-pound defender back into the lineup.

Joseph missed last week against Denver because of COVID-19 and was sidelined the week prior against the Pittsburgh Steelers because of a shoulder injury.

“When it comes to these issues, we’re going to make sure that when these guys come back, that they have their full wind, especially someone built like he is,” Staley said. “Making sure that he’s got his full-game shape back and all that.”

Cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. (concussion) and safety Alohi Gilman (quadricep) will also be out against the Bengals.