COSTA MESA, Calif. _ The Los Angeles Chargers avoided a potential distraction when they re-signed one of their Pro Bowl defensive ends this month.
That move, however, led to another potential distraction regarding their other Pro Bowl defensive end.
Melvin Ingram attended the team's second padded practice of training camp Tuesday in Costa Mesa but again did not participate in drills.
"We've talked a little bit and all I have to say is I'm going to support him," said Joey Bosa, the Chargers' other defensive star. "He's going to make the best decision for him and his family. I have faith in him that he's going to make the right decisions."
Entering the final season of a four-year, $64 million contract he signed in June 2017, Ingram is now dissatisfied with his deal, particularly in light of the what Bosa just received.
On Aug. 1, Bosa signed a five-year, $135 million extension that made him the NFL's highest-paid defensive player of all time.
The deal also continued the recent rapid acceleration of salaries for pass rushers around the NFL. Ingram's $16 million annual average now ranks 14th among edge rushers, according to overthecap.com.
At 31, he can become an unrestricted free agent next year. The Chargers have several other pending big-name free agents, a situation that further clouds Ingram's future with the team.
"At the end of the day, it is a business and he has to take care of himself," Bosa said. "I think he would love to play with us. He wants to be out there. But he's gotta handle business."
With Ingram sitting out, Uchenna Nwosu moved into the starting lineup at the smaller defensive end spot in Gus Bradley's scheme.
Nwosu, who is entering his third season, has appeared in all 32 games the last two years, with three starts. He was drafted in the second round in 2018 out of USC, mostly as an outside linebacker, but now is considered a full-time defensive end.
"We got our fingers crossed with him," said Bradley, the defensive coordinator. "We need him to step the next step. I think it will happen just by him being locked into one position."
