The Los Angeles Chargers just can’t get a break on or off the field. While head coach Jim Harbaugh keeps fighting through an injury wave that’s challenging his roster depth, the NFL has now delivered disciplinary punishment to two Chargers players after last week’s loss to the Washington Commanders.

The Chargers’ defensive tackle Otito Ogbonnia and linebacker Marlowe Wax were both fined by the NFL for their conduct during the Week 5 matchup.

Ogbonnia got a $6,554 fine for unnecessary roughness for his move in the fourth quarter against the Washington Commanders’ quarterback Jayden Daniels. Meanwhile, Wax was fined $4,672 for roughing the kicker early in the second quarter.

While Ogbonnia’s unnecessary roughness had no effect on the consequences of the game, Wax’s slip-up cost the Chargers heavily during the game as it wiped out a 57-yard punt return touchdown by wide receiver Ladd McConkey, effectively changing the momentum of the game.

In fact, penalties have been a major concern for the Chargers this season. They had ten penalties for 85 yards vs the Commanders. It was almost a replay of what happened in their Week 4 loss to the New York Giants, which saw them penalized 14 times for 107 yards.

As for financial penalties, this is not the first time Chargers players have had to part with money. Week 3 saw Alohi Gilman fined $11,593 for unnecessary roughness, while Derwin James was fined $17,389 after Week 2 under the same category.

Lack of discipline is a problem that the Chargers cannot afford to have. Given the growing list of injury concerns, suspensions could really derail their season.

Jim Harbaugh’s expanding injury worries

Chargers’ troubles are not exclusive to penalties; injuries still ravage their depth. Going into Sunday’s game with the Miami Dolphins, the Chargers made public that defensive tackle Da’Shawn Hand has been put on injured reserve (IR) due to a groin injury suffered during the loss to Washington. Hand was left in the first half and didn’t come back.

The Chargers now have seven players on designated-to-return IR: Hand, LB Khalil Mack, CB Deane Leonard, CB Eric Rogers, RB Omarion Hampton, snapper Josh Harris, and LB Denzel Perryman. Three players, LB Junior Colson, RB Najee Harris, and OT Rashawn Slater, are already out for the season.

The team has used seven of its eight designated-to-return IR spots, leaving only one remaining for the rest of the regular season. While there are chances that Perryman and Mack could be available to return soon, the Chargers won’t regain any of their IR designations once players come off the list, meaning roster flexibility will remain limited down the stretch.

The situation has already pushed Harbaugh into making tough personnel choices. Tackle Joe Alt, who is working through a high ankle sprain, was not put on IR to maintain the balance. Likewise, wide receiver Derius Davis is kept on the active roster even though he missed three consecutive weeks of practice. Harbaugh has also signed LB Odafe Oweh from the Baltimore Ravens to compensate for the depleted defense.

The Chargers’ attrition through injury, paired with expensive penalties and inconsistent performance, has undone what was a strong 3-0 start to the season.