COSTA MESA — Chargers coach Brandon Staley didn’t provide much clarity Friday regarding the playing status of the 14 players on the team’s COVID-19 reserve list.

Staley will wait until 1 p.m. on Saturday to learn which players will be available to play against the Houston Texans the following day. That’s the deadline for game-day roster transactions.

Staley said every player on the virus list except for edge rusher Joey Bosa and cornerback Kemon Hall still has a chance to play in Houston. With the new COVID-19 protocol rules, vaccinated players who are asymptomatic only need to provide one negative test result to be cleared to return to the team.

Defensive tackle Justin Jones and practice squad linebacker Cole Christiansen were the latest addition to the Chargers’ list, which consists of 12 active players and two practice squad players.

Center Corey Linsley, running back Austin Ekeler, edge rusher Chris Rumph II, wide receiver Andre Roberts, cornerback Tevaughn Campbell, wide receiver Jalen Guyton, defensive back Trey Marshall, backup quarterback Chase Daniel, defensive tackle Joe Gaziano and practice squad kicker Tristan Vizcaino are also on the virus list.

The Texans are also dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak and had 23 players on their virus list as of Friday afternoon. Staley and Texans coach David Culley told reporters that they haven’t heard from the league about a possible game postponement.

“We expect the game to be played,” Staley said.

The Chargers could be thin at edge rusher with Bosa ruled out, Rumph on the virus list and Kyler Fackrell on injured reserve.

Uchenna Nwosu will replace Bosa as the team’s No. 1 edge rusher, but Nwosu doesn’t expect his role to change much Sunday.

Nwosu has been one of the Chargers’ best players since he had a breakout performance against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 10. He recorded his first career interception last week against the Kansas City Chiefs.

“It’s about getting guys more prepared,” Nwosu said. “They work hard in practice and prepare for these moments. It’s a next-man-up mentality. We have guys like K9 (Kenneth Murray) and E (Emeke Egbule). We’re short-handed, but those guys prepare hard and work hard. They’re ready.”

Murray has an opportunity to show he’s ready for more snaps as an edge rusher. He’s expected to start next to Nwosu, according to Staley.

“I’m really excited to see (Murray) compete,” Staley said. “He’s had a tremendous attitude. I think he’s improving. He’s getting more comfortable there. We’re going to continue to accelerate that role.”

Staley said he’ll also utilize defensive tackles Jerry Tillery and Andrew Brown as edge rushers to provide depth. Egbule and Brown are on the practice squad.

Murray, a 2020 first-round pick, lost his starting job as an inside linebacker because of the emergence of Kyzir White and Drue Tranquill.

Initially, the Chargers experimented with Murray as an edge rusher in blitz situations, but he struggled to find a rhythm with the lack of snaps. He received 25 defensive snaps against the New York Giants during Fackrell’s first game missed because of the knee injury, but Murray only saw 10 defensive snaps the following week against the Chiefs.

Murray, who missed five games earlier this season because of an ankle injury, has averaged 13.4 defensive snaps in the past five games. He only has one tackle in that span and hasn’t had a quarterback hit this season.

“He’s just getting a little bit more confident,” Chargers defensive coordinator Renaldo Hill said. “Obviously, working a little bit more with (outside linebackers) Coach (Jay) Rodgers, working on his get-off, working on his hand movement, things that when you get thrown in the fire, you don’t realize until you’re lined up against a starting tackle in this league. Now, I think that he’s starting to recognize those things. He’s an athletic guy and a talented guy. Now, I think he’s starting to apply some of those things to where he can take advantage of it.”

DERWIN A GAME-TIME DECISION

Staley said he expects safety Derwin James to be available to play in Houston, but the team will wait to see how his injured hamstring does during the pregame workout.

“Derwin is going to be available to play and he was out there again progressing well,” Staley said. “We’ll just treat it more like a game-time decision, similar to the Chiefs game, where he’ll work out before the game and we’ll make sure that he’s good enough to play. But I think he will be available for us to play in this game.”

James played with the injured hamstring last week against the Chiefs, but it bothered him throughout the game and he was sidelined for most of the second half. Staley said he’s not concerned about James aggravating the hamstring if he plays Sunday.

Related Articles

“We do want him to be available because he is better this week,” Staley said, “but we will never put him out there at the expense of losing him long term.”

James was listed on the final injury report as questionable and tight end Donald Parham Jr. was ruled out. Parham sustained a concussion against the Chiefs.

SAMUEL SET TO RETURN

Rookie cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. is set to return Sunday after a four-game absence.

He was sidelined after sustaining his second concussion of the season in Week 11 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Samuel is expected to start at outside cornerback against Houston, according to Staley.

“He’s one of our top players,” Staley said. “He allows us to play the way we want to play. We’re certainly better when he’s out there. He’s a guy who can really make an impact on not only just covering, but he can get you the football, too. He’s an outstanding tackler. So he improves us in all areas.

“It’s been great to have him out at practice the last couple of weeks because you can see the confidence that he’s playing with. Now he gets to go show it in a game.”