• Joey Bosa Takes Pay Cut to Stay with Chargers Amid Speculation
• Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Joey Bosa has decided to remain with the team this season despite a whirlwind of offseason trade rumors and salary cap concerns. With two years remaining on a five-year, $135 million contract extension signed in 2020, Bosa's future with the team was uncertain.
• However, in an effort to stay with the Chargers, Bosa opted to restructure his deal in March, taking a pay cut. This move was crucial given the team's salary cap issues, making Bosa a potential cut or trade candidate. After adjusting his contract, Bosa ensured an $8 million guaranteed base salary for this season. Still, there is no guaranteed money for him in 2025, potentially marking this year as his final season in Los Angeles.
Bosa's Commitment to the Chargers
• Bosa emphasized his desire to remain with the Chargers, expressing interest in playing for one team throughout his entire career. His primary focus now is on winning games and contributing to the team's success alongside teammate Khalil Mack. This dedication underscores his priorities as he looks forward to the upcoming season.
Challenges and Injuries
• The past two seasons have been challenging for Bosa due to various injuries. He missed significant time with hamstring, foot, and toe injuries, and his 2022 season was cut short after spraining his foot in Week 11. His injury recovery included offseason surgery on his finger for a separate injury. Despite these setbacks, Bosa feels optimistic about his physical condition and is confident in both his body and performance going into this year.
Optimism for the Future
• Bosa expressed his excitement for training camp and matchups against rookie Joe Alt. Reflecting on his performance, Bosa showed his capabilities last season with 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble in a Week 9 win over the Jets. His leadership and skillset will be pivotal for the Chargers this year.
• Joey Bosa's decision to take a pay cut underscores his commitment to the Chargers, and fans and teammates will be watching closely, hopeful that Bosa can help lead the team to victory.
Quotes from Joey Bosa
• "I always thought of myself being somebody that will play here and retire here, which I think not many people do on one team, and I think would be a cool thing to accomplish, but you never know. I'm going to worry about this year first."
• "Winning football games is more important to me right now than making some extra money."
• "I want to win. I want to be on this team. I want another shot with the guys in this room, especially Khalil [Mack]."
• "So I think we have a great opportunity here, and who knows, maybe I'll have a great year this year, and then things can change down the road."
• "My foot's feeling great. Toe's good. The hamstring's good. I mean, there was a list of things last year, my hand, so all those things are good."
• "It's nice to be feeling better going into year nine than you have since maybe five, six years ago."
• "I've said I've been feeling great the last couple years. It's the real deal this time, but obviously anything can happen, but it's fun, feeling really confident in your body and being able to perform."
• "I'm going to need to beat him up a little bit in camp so he's ready."
• "We'll see in a few weeks, when I lay a helmet on his chin, how he holds up."