Los Angeles Chargers Release Joey Bosa Ahead of 2025 NFL Season

The Los Angeles Chargers made a significant move on Wednesday by releasing veteran edge rusher Joey Bosa. This decision comes just before the start of the 2025 New League Year and marks a tough chapter for the team and General Manager Joe Hortiz, who previously expressed deep respect for Bosa during the recent NFL Combine.

With Bosa’s departure, the Chargers are set to save approximately $25 million on their 2025 salary cap. This brings their current projected cap space to roughly $91 million, providing the team with more flexibility as they prepare for the upcoming season.

Joey Bosa was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft and had an impressive career, recording double-digit sacks in four of his first six seasons. He even achieved 19 sacks in his first 20 career games, earning him the honor of NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. However, injuries limited his performance in recent years, with issues including groin, foot, and back injuries affecting his ability to play. Since the beginning of the 2022 season, he managed to participate in only 28 games while accumulating 14.0 total sacks.

Bosa’s determination is commendable; he pushed through significant pain last fall due to a back injury that made simple tasks like walking and sleeping challenging. Despite these struggles, he fought hard to contribute to the Chargers, helping them secure a playoff berth.

Looking ahead, the Chargers’ edge rusher group is undergoing a transformation. Last season, it included Bosa, Khalil Mack, Tuli Tuipulotu, and Bud Dupree. While Tuipulotu and Dupree remain under contract, Mack is also a pending free agent. If Bosa and Mack are both gone in 2025, the team will need to reconsider their strategy moving forward. However, retaining Mack would ensure that a critical presence remains both on the field and in the locker room.

Bosa’s release opens the door for a new path for both the player, who made five Pro Bowls and ranks second in team history with 72.0 career sacks, and for the Chargers, who may look to bolster their edge rusher position through free agency or the draft this offseason.

In another offseason move, the Chargers have also placed an exclusive rights tender on tight end Tucker Fisk. As the 2025 NFL Combine unfolds, discussions around the team’s strategy for their first-round draft pick continue to generate interest.