Following nine seasons, 107 games and 72.0 sacks, Joey Bosa is no longer a member of the Los Angeles Chargers.
The Chargers announced Wednesday they have released Bosa, a five-time Pro Bowler.
It's a move that will save the franchise $25.36 million on the salary cap. Bosa's release also comes a week before a $12.36 million roster bonus was due, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported.
Bosa was the No. 3 overall selection of the 2016 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers, the last player remaining on the roster who was also a member of the team before it moved north to Los Angeles.
Now, he's moving on and the Bolts are moving into free agency with roughly $91 million in salary cap space to work with.
Bosa's exit was a possibility last offseason, but he and Khalil Mack restructured their contracts to stick around. Mack is an impending free agent, but his rushing mate's departure could signal his return to L.A.
As for Bosa, 29, the imagination immediately travels north in California for him to possibly join his brother Nick, 27, on the San Francisco 49ers, an option -- among others -- NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported is a possibility.
Though the elder Bosa brother stuck with the Chargers for the 2024 season, Wednesday's news has long been expected.
Bosa has played in just 28 games over the past three seasons, troubled by a litany of injuries to his back, groin and foot, while taking up cap space aplenty.
The Chargers' 2024 return to the playoffs in the first year with head coach Jim Harbaugh came with Bosa missing three games and starting nine. He produced 22 tackles, five sacks and a pair of forced fumbles.
With Bosa gone, Tuli Tuipulotu – who had a team-high 8.5 sacks in nine starts – will no doubt move into a spotlighted role, while it remains to be seen if Mack re-signs.
Bosa, who has four double-digit-sack seasons to his resume but none since 2021, is second all time in franchise history with his 72 sacks, trailing only Leslie O'Neal (105.5), and helped the Bolts to three playoff appearances. His final game will stand as the Chargers' Wild Card Round loss to the Houston Texans in which he also recorded his last sack.
Just where he'll tally his next sack remains to be seen, but a big name is headed to the free-agent market.
Just how much juice the now-former Bolts standout has left also remains to be seen, and for potential suitors to determine.
