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Joey Bosa ready to get to work with San Diego Chargers

By The Sports Xchange
Ohio State defensive end Joey Bosa walks onto the stage after being selected by the San Diego Chargers with the third overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft on April 28, 2016 in Chicago. Photo by Brian Kersey/UPI
Ohio State defensive end Joey Bosa walks onto the stage after being selected by the San Diego Chargers with the third overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft on April 28, 2016 in Chicago. Photo by Brian Kersey/UPI | License Photo

SAN DIEGO -- The gang is finally all here.

Joey Bosa, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, and the San Diego Chargers at last came to terms on his rookie contract. The former Ohio State standout arrived at Chargers Park on Monday, and coach Mike McCoy welcomed him with open arms.

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"He's one of us," McCoy said. "He's always been one of us."

Bosa missed training camp and the first three preseason games. It's not expected that Bosa will play Friday in the team's preseason finale against the San Francisco 49ers.

But Bosa said he did nothing but work out while away.

"I really didn't do anything other than train and get ready for this opportunity," he said. "I didn't think it was fair to the guys out here if I was at home enjoying time off, partying, doing this that or the other while they're here working. I thought I owed it to them and to myself to give everything I had while I had the opportunity."

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McCoy, like he was the first time he met Bosa, was impressed with his newest player, even with Bosa being the last drafted player to sign, more than 31 days after the start of training camp.

"He came in here in great shape and I had a great conversation with him," McCoy said. "We talked about what we are going to do with him."

McCoy wouldn't commit to Bosa playing in the team's opener on Sept. 11 at the Kansas City Chiefs. But it's believed Bosa can consume enough of the playbook to contribute on a limited basis.

"When we think he is ready, we are going to put him out there," McCoy said. "We're not going to put a timetable on it and say it going go be this day or that day."

Bosa is ready to go.

"I'm obviously a step behind the other guys, being this late into the game," he said. "But I trust the coaches. They obviously have a plan ready for me. I'm not 100 percent sure what that is, but I trust them to get me ready to play, whenever they feel I'm ready to play."

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Asked if he could go against the Chiefs, Bosa didn't hesitate.

"That's the coaches' decision, but I'm 100 percent sure," he said. "I'm in some of the best shape I've ever been in my life."

While upbeat over Bosa's arrival, McCoy was realistic that Bosa missed some valuable time.

"We've thrown a lot at our players since he's been gone," McCoy said. "We'll get him used to playing in passing downs and we got time for that. That is what the next couple of weeks are for."

And not the legal mumbo-jumbo of signing bonuses and offset language that kept Bosa away from the Chargers.

"Nothing like putting on the pads and actually playing football," Bosa said. "You don't really understand that unless you've played football.

"But I think I've put myself in the best possible shape I can be in showing up here."

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