With Khalil Mack sidelined, former SEC sack king could be next man up for Chargers

Star linebacker Khalil Mack's injury is a major blow to the Los Angeles Chargers defense. According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, the dislocated elbow he suffered Monday is not expected to be season-ending. Mack is likely to return in a few weeks.

Without him, the Chargers have a gap on the edge. However, the good news is that the team's depth on the edge is strong, and this opens the door for rookie Kyle Kennard.

In another tweet, Rapoport teased that Kennard, who led the SEC last season with 11.5 sacks at South Carolina, could step into a bigger role.

Kennard, the Chargers' fourth-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft, showed promise during his standout final collegiate season, earning SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors.

Here are some bits and pieces from Bleacher Report's scouting report on the 6-foot-4, 262-pound LB:

"Good burst off the line of scrimmage to win with speed around the edge paired with a solid rip move as a pass-rusher. Takes good angles and has natural bend with flexible hips/lower half to corner and take an efficient path to the quarterback. As a run defender, he's quick to get his hands up and has long arms to get extension on blocks with added strength."

Kennard has plenty of experience. Over five college seasons (four with Georgia Tech and one with South Carolina), he played in 54 games and recorded 143 tackles (64 solo) and 24.0 sacks. He also added 39 tackles for loss.

kyle kennard is gonna be a problem pic.twitter.com/a5JSixPGK2

— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) May 2, 2025

The Chargers are roaring after two games, standing at 2-0 and looking unstoppable. With Khalil Mack's injury, they don't need to scramble for reinforcements. The team already has solid depth ready to step up.