Los Angeles Chargers

Chargers' McCoy said he doesn't know when Bosa will return

Published Nov. 15, 2016 3:41 p.m. ET

foxsports

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- San Diego Chargers coach Mike McCoy isn't clear when Joey Bosa will practice again.

"I cannot tell you when he will be back out there," McCoy said on Thursday.

San Diego continued its preparations for Sunday's opener against the Kansas City Chiefs as Bosa skipped another workout.

Bosa, the draft's third pick, has practiced once since ending his 31-day holdout. It appears he injured his left hamstring during a light, non-padded session Sept. 5.

"He's getting better, and like I am going to keep saying until he is out here, I'm going to say he is day to day," McCoy said. "When he is healthy and ready to roll he will be out here and helping our team win."

The Chargers, at 4-12, didn't do much of that last year, producing their worst record since 2003. Among the reasons San Diego missed the playoffs for the fifth time in six seasons was its mark against AFC West teams.

San Diego was blanked, losing all six games against divisional rivals to run its losing streak to eight. In the past two seasons, the Chargers are 2-10 in the AFC West, with both victories coming against winless Oakland Raiders teams.

"You have to win games in the division," Philip Rivers said. "When we have been 3-3 or better, we have had a chance, we've been right there. When we are not, we are not even around. We definitely know how important those division games are and we got to get back to winning them."

They will be challenged to begin on Sunday. The Chiefs ended their playoff season last year with 10 straight regular-season wins. In two games against the Chargers last year, Kansas City held them to six points.

The 33-3 shellacking the Chargers absorbed at Arrowhead in November was the second-worst loss in McCoy's three years.

"Championships start in the division," Rivers said.

The Chargers think they can contend in an AFC West that is considered more wide open than in past years. The Denver Broncos defend their title without Peyton Manning.

"Shoot, we lost all six (AFC West) games so we can't put ourselves up there yet," Rivers said. "But I do think our expectation is to win the division. We believe in here that we can go from the very bottom to winning the division.

"There are a lot of things that we have to do to make that happen, but I think it's going to be all four teams I would imagine battling for a long time."

When Bosa joins that battle remains to be seen.