Chargers' Keenan Allen, Mike Williams practice; two DL on IR

COSTA MESA, Calif. -- In a season full of injury woes, Los Angeles Chargers coach Brandon Staley expressed optimism Wednesday that although two more players were placed on injured reserve, others dealing with injuries would soon return.

"There's been a lot of subtraction," Staley said. "We're looking forward to addition."

The Bolts on Wednesday placed defensive linemen Otito Ogbonnia and Christian Covington on injured reserve and in a corresponding move signed defensive lineman Tyeler Davison from the Cleveland Browns' practice squad.

Also on Wednesday, wide receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams -- both of whom have missed the past two games because of injuries -- returned to practice.

"Just kind of day-by-day now," said Allen, who has been dealing with a left hamstring injury that has sidelined him for all but a half-game since Week 1.

"I'm feeling a lot better for sure," said Williams, who suffered a right high ankle sprain in Week 7.

But both wide receivers remain uncertain whether they will play in a rematch against the division-leading Kansas City Chiefs (7-2) at SoFi Stadium on Sunday Night Football.

The Chargers (5-4) fell to the Chiefs 27-24 in a Week 2 matchup with a roster that has since drastically changed because of injuries.

Since that early-September loss, the Bolts have remained in playoff contention despite placing edge rusher Joey Bosa, cornerback J.C. Jackson and defensive lineman Austin Johnson, along with Ogbonnia and Covington, on injured reserve.

The Bolts also cut 2019 first-round pick Jerry Tillery ahead of last Sunday's loss to the San Francisco 49ers -- a move Staley said was necessary because of competing visions between the team and player.

But Tillery's release, coupled with the injuries to Ogbonnia and Covington, caused what several players described as an untenable situation after the 22-16 defeat as the Bolts finished the game with only three healthy defensive linemen.

Ogbonnia ruptured the patellar tendon in his left knee in the first quarter and Covington suffered a torn pectoral muscle in the fourth quarter.

With the addition of Davison, the Chargers have four healthy linemen on the active roster.

Tempered optimism also remains that Bosa, who underwent groin surgery following Week 3, will return this season. Staley said Wednesday there was no timeline, but added that, "He's making progress, he's feeling better ... But I think he's still a couple weeks away."

On offense, the Chargers have been without left tackle Rashawn Slater since Week 3 after the second-year pro tore his left biceps tendon, and last Sunday, the Bolts were without both starting tackles with right tackle Trey Pipkins III sidelined because of a knee injury.

Pipkins returned to practice Wednesday in a limited capacity, but uncertainty remains whether he'll play Sunday. "The rest from the game helped him," Staley said. "I think we'll be able to get him the right amount of ramp up this week."

Allen attempted to return in a Week 7 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, but was on a snap count and played only in the first half. He said he suffered no setbacks during the game, but reaggravated the injury during the ensuing bye week and sat out of practice the past two weeks.

"Whatever the highest percentile of care is, that's where it will be," Staley said of ensuring that Allen's return to practice will result in no further setbacks.

Allen said going forward he would not return to game action until he felt healthy enough to endure an entire game.

"I hope," Allen said when asked if he would return against the Chiefs. "I want to."

Williams, speaking before practice, said Wednesday's workout would "tell a lot" about whether he would be ready to play Sunday, which would mark four weeks since the injury.