The Chargers opened their first official injury report of the 2026 season on Wednesday with Keaton Mitchell and Tuli Tuipulotu both listed as limited participants. It was the first clear look at who is already working under restrictions as the team moves toward its season opener.
Mitchell’s name drew attention because he had missed six consecutive practices before returning to the field this week. Tuipulotu’s status matters for the same reason, only with a different back story: he started training camp with an injury that slowed his start, and Wednesday showed he was still not fully free of it.
The report also gave a wider picture of where the Chargers stood in Week 1 work. R.J. Mickens was limited with an ankle injury and Brenen Thompson was limited with a hip injury, while Deane Leonard was the only player to sit out entirely because of an abdomen injury. Khalil Mack did not practice, but that absence was listed as a veteran’s rest day rather than a health issue, which kept the report cleaner than it might have looked at first glance.
That matters because the Chargers are trying to sort out availability before Sunday’s opener against the Cardinals, and the first report of the year is often the best snapshot of who is trending up and who is still being managed. Rashawn Slater offered one positive sign on Tuesday when he returned to practice and took part in 11-on-11 drills without limitation, but the team still has questions elsewhere, especially around players who are only beginning to work back.
For Mitchell and Tuipulotu, the next step is simple but important: the Chargers need to show whether limited work turns into full participation before the opener. If it does, Wednesday will be remembered as a caution light rather than a real concern. If it does not, the first injury report of the season may already have pointed to the spots the Chargers will have to manage most carefully in Week 1.
