Tuipulotu Back on the Field, but Only in Individual Drills

Tuli Tuipulotu missed the Chargers' first training camp practice on Wednesday, then returned Thursday — though only for individual work, not team reps. That's cautious progress, not clearance.

The timing matters because Tuipulotu sits atop the defensive line depth chart, and the names behind him — Justin Eboigbe, TeRah Edwards — don't inspire a lot of confidence about what happens if he misses meaningful time. Kyle Kennard and Nadame Tucker are the edge options listed behind him at DE. It's a rotation that needs its top piece healthy.

Nothing here suggests this is serious yet. Individual drills on day two of camp is a pretty standard return path for whatever kept him off the field Wednesday. But after spending most of this week writing about the offensive line situation — both starting tackles carrying questionable tags into camp — the last thing this team needs is another health question mark developing on the other side of the ball. Worth watching as full-team periods ramp up.