It was the summer of eating for Joey Bosa.
The Los Angeles Chargers linebacker housed 4,500 to 5,000 calories a day to bulk up and add some more strength ahead of the 2023 NFL season.
Standing at 6-foot-5, the veteran was 250 pounds last year but wanted to build back to the 265-280 weight range he played in earlier in his professional career and while at Ohio State.
“I specifically tried to really eat good and put some weight on this offseason, get back to my weight I was at a few years ago, where I could really use my power,” Bosa said, according to ESPN. “Really handle guys in the run and be more effective in that part of the game.”
Bosa, 28, sat on the injured reserve list in the 2022 season after undergoing groin surgery and watched as the Chargers fell to a league-worst average of 5.4 yards allowed per carry.
Heading into his eighth season in the league, Bosa talked with position coach Giff Smith about how he could regain the power that was signature to his game when he was selected third overall in the 2016 NFL Draft by the Chargers.
“He’s finally healthy and he was able to add the muscle mass, good muscle mass, and he feels comfortable. And then it does expose the power,” Smith said.
“Everybody knows how gifted he is with his hands and his movement, but when you can shock [opponents] with the power, it just has another element to his game.”
Bosa worked with a nutritionist and consumed plates stacked with chicken, fish and red meat paired with vegetables and a hearty serving of carbohydrates at least five times a day.
“Eating isn’t really enjoyable these days,” Bosa said. “It’s more so just part of the job.”
Despite the discomfort, it seems Bosa’s bulking has begun to pay off at training camp.
Teammate and offensive tackle Rashawn Slater has felt the difference in Bosa’s game.
“I noticed that right away,” Slater said. “I feel a little extra pop with him this year for sure.”
The Chargers kick off the 2023 season on Sept. 10 against the Miami Dolphins.
