The Chargers escaped Atlanta with an overtime win Sunday.
They couldn't escape a season-long injury rash.
Defensive end Caraun Reid tore his left anterior cruciate ligament in the first quarter, becoming the fifth Chargers player to tear his ACL in the season's seven games. Tight end Hunter Henry reported symptoms to the team following the 33-30 victory, and he has entered the NFL's concussion protocol, coach Mike McCoy said Monday.
Henry joins cornerback Craig Mager as Chargers to have suffered a concussion on the day.
Mager exited early in the third quarter. Henry, a rookie second-round pick, limped to the sideline in the fourth quarter but re-entered the game, his unspecified leg ailment appearing unrelated to the concussion diagnosed afterward. The 21-year-old played four of the offense's five offensive snaps in overtime.
Reid will be placed on injured reserve this week.
Aside from Week 6, the Chargers have designated one player onto IR after each game this season. Reid joins wide receiver Keenan Allen (ACL, IR after Week 1), running back Danny Woodhead (ACL, Week 2), inside linebacker Manti Te'o (Achilles, Week 3), cornerback Jason Verrett (ACL, Week 4) and inside linebacker Nick Dzubnar (ACL, Week 5).
Reid spent this offseason with the Detroit Lions.
The Chargers use their No. 3 waiver priority to claim him after he was a final roster cut in early September. Reid was one of three players the team added; cornerback Pierre Desir and running back Andre Williams were the others. Desir was waived Saturday but is re-signing with the team, a source said Monday. Williams is on the practice squad.
Reid logged five tackles and a sack in seven games. Against the Colts in Week 3, he scooped an Andrew Luck fumble off a Jatavis Brown sack, returning it 61 yards for a touchdown. He was active each week on the Chargers' 46-man game day roster despite the returns of Joey Bosa from injury and Damion Square from suspension.
"Caraun came in from the very first day and did an outstanding job," McCoy said. "A very smart player who picked up our system in a hurry. Made some big plays for us; an example is the Indy touchdown. It's tough to see this happen to these guys. ... It's unfortunate. We're going to miss him."
Five ACL tears in seven games is a stark number.
By comparison, the team had one ACL tear the past two regular seasons combined. Center Doug Legursky in 2014 was the lone such injury.
With Henry's status in question Sunday versus the Bronoos, the team is left with three healthy tight ends on its roster between Antonio Gates, Sean McGrath and Asante Cleveland.
