Welcome back to the Chargers Mailbag!
We'll run a Mailbag each week during the regular season. Send in submissions for the Mailbag on Twitter @EricLSmith or by email at eric.smith@chargers.nfl.com.
Off we go...
The Chargers face a massive test Sunday at home against the Colts, who are currently atop the AFC and are tied for the NFL's best record at 5-1.
The Bolts found a way to squeak out a win Sunday in Miami despite the fact they were undermanned and missing multiple starters.
Could help be on the way in Week 7?
It seems as if Denzel Perryman is trending in the right direction as he was a full practice participant on Thursday and Friday last week. A full week of practice could mean a return for the veteran linebacker, who remains on Injured Reserve with an ankle injury.
It will be intriguing to see if Joe Alt is involved in practice in any way this week.
He hasn't practiced for two full weeks with an ankle injury but wasn't placed on Injured Reserve after Week 4, meaning the Chargers likely hope he'd be back before Week 8 against the Vikings.
But with two games in five days coming up, we'll see where Alt is at.
The big potential return, however, centers around Khalil Mack.
The future Hall of Famer sustained an elbow injury back in Week 2 and is now eligible to return to practice this week after missing the past four games.
We'll see if Mack is back this week and how much time he'll need on the practice field to be ready for game action.
Even if it's in a limited role, Mack's presence could do wonders for a Chargers defense that has been up and down at times without him.
Obviously, his on-field standard is at a high level but Mack's leadership on the sideline is vital, too. The latter part of that hasn't wavered but getting Mack back in the fold on the field would certainly give the unit a boost.
"We love Khalil," Chargers outside linebackers coach Dylan Roney said recently. "But he's been around and we've called him "Coach Mack."
"He's been helping coach the guys and lending his presence and his leadership. Maybe he's not playing on Sunday but he's still around the building and he's doing everything he can to get back," Roney added. "We miss him, but it's giving other guys a chance to step up."
Either!
I wouldn't put anything past Chargers General Manager Joe Hortiz, who has shown a willingness to improve the roster no matter what time of year it is.
Now, trading for a player before a Thursday night game might mean it would be tough for them to play, but that doesn't mean a move can't happen.
The 2025 NFL trade deadline is less than three weeks away but Hortiz already made a big move that helped the Chargers.
Odafe Oweh had a sack and a team-high four pressures in his debut and also nearly had an interception in coverage.
The Bolts safety group, meanwhile, showcased their depth as Derwin James and Tony Jefferson had interceptions while Elijah Molden and RJ Mickens played well on the back end. Credit to Molden, too, for playing through a painful hand injury.
The Chargers made the Oweh trade because they felt like they needed edge rusher depth and had a surplus at safety. That balance played out well in Miami, and now we wait to see if Hortiz has anything else up his sleeve in the coming weeks.
A year ago, the Chargers gave up 117.5 rushing yards per game. They have allowed 124.2 rushing yards per game so far this year.
So while the numbers are somewhat identical, I understand the sentiment from Eric given that the Bolts have allowed at least 118 rushing yards in the past four games. And yes, that does coincide with Mack not being in the lineup.
Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh was asked about the run defense Monday and said he saw "a lot of good," but that the unit needs to limit the explosive plays.
Case in point: the 49-yard touchdown allowed in Miami right after a fumble on offense.
Harbaugh was also asked about the run defense in the red zone and how teams have recently scored rushing touchdowns to the outside near the goal line.
"I kind of know and we're addressing it," Harbaugh said.
Overall, it's not as if the Bolts run defense has been porous. But everyone involved likely knows the operation needs to be a little bit cleaner, something players and coaches will be focused on this week.
Especially with Colts running back Jonathan Taylor — the NFL leader in attempts (115), rushing yards (603) and rushing touchdowns (seven) coming to town on Sunday.
Definitely a mixture of both.
In fact, here's what Harbaugh said earlier this season when asked how he approaches fourth-down decisions.
"Informed. Data, play driven. Situation driven, defense driven," Harbaugh said. "Do I think we can get it? All those things are being factored in."
All in all, Harbaugh has done a solid job on fourth downs if you ask me, and this is coming from someone who tends to skew more aggressively in these situations.
