The LA Chargers' first official injury report of the 2026 season gave an early Week 1 snapshot, with Keaton Mitchell and Tuli Tuipulotu both listed as limited participants on Wednesday.
That report matters because the Chargers are already moving into season-opener preparation against the Cardinals on Sunday, and the status of a few key names now gives Jim Harbaugh an early balance to manage between caution and readiness.
Mitchell's return is the main positive
Keaton Mitchell's limited listing is especially notable because this week was his first return to the field after missing six consecutive practices. For a player trying to get back into rhythm before Week 1, simply getting back into the rotation is a useful step.
It does not guarantee anything for Sunday, but it does suggest the Chargers are at least tracking him as someone who can still contribute if his workload can be built up over the next few days.
Tuipulotu, Slater and the rest of the report
Tuli Tuipulotu was also limited, while Rashawn Slater's situation looked more encouraging after he returned to practice on Tuesday and took part in 11-on-11 drills without limitation.
The full report included six players in total, with one player, Deane Leonard, the only one to miss practice entirely because of injury. Khalil Mack's absence on Wednesday was listed as a veteran rest day rather than an injury issue, which keeps the picture cleaner than it might first have appeared.
That distinction matters at this stage of the week. Not every absence is a problem, and not every limited tag carries the same weight, but the Chargers still have a few moving parts to monitor before the season opener.
What the Chargers will be watching next
The next update will tell the real story. For now, the key takeaway is that Keaton Mitchell and Tuli Tuipulotu were managed carefully on Wednesday, Slater returned to full work on Tuesday, and the Chargers can continue their build-up toward Sunday with only one injury-related absence from the first report.
