Outside linebacker Khalil Mack has an elbow injury and will miss some time, Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh said Wednesday afternoon.
But Harbaugh also noted that the future Hall of Famer's injury is not season ending. Mack, who was placed on Injured Reserve on Wednesday, must miss a minimum of four games.
"He's going to miss some time ... [but] he's like the Wolverine," Harbaugh said. "The rules say four weeks, but we'll see."
Mack suffered the injury when trying to make a tackle on the final play of the first quarter and immediately went to the sideline in pain.
Mack, who had notched a sack earlier in the game, went to the locker room and later returned to the sideline wearing a sling.
Harbaugh said he has a new amount of respect for Mack given the pain tolerance he displayed in the aftermath of the injury.
"He's a great player, it's one of the toughest things I've ever seen," Harbaugh said. "I was staring right at it, he wasn't going to go sit on the field or lay down on the field.
"He came off the field and I think told Sal [Lopez], one of our trainers, 'Get out of my way.' I've had an arm injury or two, those are painful," Harbaugh added. "It's a new level of respect for the toughness of Khalil Mack… he's got the power of healing."
While Mack's absence leaves a void in terms of production and leadership, Harbaugh said he is confident in the rest of the edge rusher group to step up.
Tuli Tuipulotu will remain a starter while Bud Dupree will presumably step into a starting role, with Caleb Murphy serving as the third edge rusher. Rookie fourth-round pick Kyle Kennard, who has been inactive the first two games, could now be in line for a bigger role.
"Tuli, he played a heck of game. 52 or 54 snaps, six quarterback pressures, TFL, PBUs. He really played well," Harbaugh said. "Also thought Bud played well and Caleb Murphy played his most snaps of his career, right around 30s, low 30s and affected the game.
"It'll be an opportunity for Kyle Kennard," Harbaugh added. "And Justin Eboigbe as well. He had 12 plays on the edge, 12 of his 15 plays were out there and he added real good support too. Opportunity."
As for potentially adding outside help, Harbaugh said that could also be a possibility.
"We'll look, we're always looking. We'll see what the coming days bring," Harbaugh said. "Competitors are always welcome."
Mack, a nine-time Pro Bowler, has 108.5 career sacks after getting one in the first quarter Monday night against the Raiders.
Both Tuipulotu and Dupree spoke postgame about what Mack means to the team.
"It's a blow to the heart. That's my dog, that's my vet. That's someone I look up to," Tuipulotu said. "But like we were talking about on the field, what would he have wanted us to do in this moment. He would want us to ball out and do it for him. That's what it is now."
Dupree: added: "K-Mack is a Hall of Famer. Anytime a Hall-of-Fame type guy goes out then you know, everybody has to step up as a unit."
