Mack, 31, was one of several key additions to the Chargers’ defense, and one of the major reasons for increased optimism in camp. After all, he is a six-time Pro Bowl selection and was the NFL defensive player of the year in 2016 after he had 11 sacks and 14 tackles for a loss and forced five fumbles while with the Raiders.

The Chargers haven’t made the playoffs since going 12-4 in 2018, with Bosa and Ingram playing significant roles in a defense that ranked eighth in points allowed. Last season, the Chargers went 9-8, missed the playoffs for the third consecutive season and were 29th in points allowed.

“It started at OTAs,” Bosa, 27, said of meshing with Mack and the rest of the newcomers during the Chargers’ organized team activities in May. “I feel like we’re already a tighter group. It feels like we’ve been together for longer than we have. I feel like if we just stay on this track, we’ll be looking good.”

The prospect of facing Bosa and Mack could keep opposing offensive coordinators up late at night, trying to devise ways to stop them. Or at least minimize the havoc they might wreak. Joe Lombardi, the Chargers’ offensive coordinator, said he wouldn’t relish facing Bosa and Mack.

Kyle Van Noy, who had five sacks last season with the New England Patriots, is another option. Van Noy has been working with the inside linebackers in the first days of camp, but he could shift to outside linebacker to spell Bosa, who had 10½ sacks last season, or Mack, who had six with Chicago.

“Luckily, the guys are pros so we won’t get hit in practice,” Lombardi said without a trace of humor. “I think it’ll be great for the development of our tackles and tight ends to have to block those guys because it’s going to be an all-day affair when you come out here versus those guys. I think it’ll help us get ready for the monsters we’re going to have to block come the season.”

Advice for James

Bosa said he sympathized with safety Derwin James, who sat out of workouts for a second consecutive day while awaiting a contract extension. Bosa declined to share any advice he had given James in recent days, but he did say he appreciated his teammate’s presence on the sideline.

“He’s doing, I think, the right thing,” Bosa said. “He obviously deserves whatever he’s going to get. He puts in 100% every single day. So, he’s just making the right decision for him right now. So the fact that he’s out here coaching the guys, fully involved, 100% locked in, every day, all of us and I’m sure the coaches see it.

“He’s obviously one of the best, if not the best, at his position in the whole league, so he’s going to get what he deserves.”