SAN DIEGO — Rookie defensive end Joey Bosa finally made it back onto the field for the San Diego Chargers on Tuesday after a long holdout.
From a fitness perspective, coach Mike McCoy said the No. 3 pick in this year’s draft looked fine.
"He looked as we expected," McCoy said. "He was in shape and ready to roll. He looked the way he did when he left."
Bosa missed 31 days and three preseason games during a nasty contract spat that included disagreement over payment of Bosa’s $17 million signing bonus and whether the contract would have offset language. He eventually signed Monday and Bosa said he’s capable of playing in the opener on Sept. 11 at the Kansas City Chiefs.
First, the Chargers wrap up the preseason schedule on Thursday hosting the San Francisco 49ers but Bosa’s not expected to play.
"It’s not up to me, it’s up to the coaches," he said. "And they have a plan and they are going to do whatever they feel is necessary."
Bosa said his teammates have welcomed him "with open arms."
"They’re aware of the business of the NFL and why I wasn’t here," Bosa said. "There is no bad blood between any of us. They are just excited to have me out there and I’m excited to be out there."
Nose tackle Ryan Carrethers said Bosa returned to the fold easily.
"It wasn’t like he was a new guy showing up," said Carrethers. "He was already with us in the spring."
It’s the training camp workouts that he missed.
Bosa acknowledged Monday "was a long day" as he did extra work with Chargers coaches to learn the schemes.
"It is what I’ve got to do to get back to speed," he said. "I’m planning to do the same today."
What Bosa hasn’t done is deliver hits or absorb one. The Chargers’ workouts are light this week with them playing two games in five days.
"I still haven’t put pads on," he said. "So I’m sure that is going to be the toughest thing to get accustomed to."
