Los Angeles Chargers' Mike Pouncey to have neck surgery

COSTA MESA, Calif. -- The Los Angeles Chargers announced that Pro Bowl center Mike Pouncey has been placed on injured reserve because of a neck issue. Head coach Anthony Lynn said Pouncey is finished for the season and will have surgery.

Lynn said he does not know if the injury is career-ending.

"We're going to miss him, his leadership and on the field," Lynn said. "But we are tickled to death that he's OK, with the injury that he had. He's going to have neck surgery at some point, and we wish him all the best."

Pouncey suffered the neck injury during last weekend's loss to the Denver Broncos. However, Lynn said the injury is something Pouncey could have been dealing with for a while and playing through the pain.

With Pouncey out, Dan Feeney will move from left guard to center, andForrest Lamp will move into the starting lineup at left guard.

"You don't want to see a guy like that go down, with everything he's been through," Feeney said. "He's a fighter, so he'll be fine off the field. But you hate to see it like that."

Added quarterback Philip Rivers: "Those guys will step in there and do a heckuva job. We'll certainly miss Mike. I feel terrible for Mike and hope that he heals up."

With the vacant roster spot, the Chargers signed offensive lineman Ryan Groy to the active roster.

The Chargers began the season without cornerstone left tackle Russell Okung, who was placed on the non-football illness list at the start of the season because of a pulmonary embolism caused by blood clots he suffered during offseason work in June.

With Pouncey and Okung out, the Chargers have just one player in the starting lineup of the offensive line with more than three years of NFL experience: six-year pro right guard Michael Schofield.

A Pro Bowler in 2018, Pouncey signed a two-year, $15 million deal last season to join the Chargers in free agency after the Miami Dolphins released him in a cost-cutting move.

Just before the regular season started, Pouncey inked a one-year, $9 million contract extension that keeps him with the Chargers through the 2020 season.

Pouncey was voted a team captain this season, something that was important to him because he thought his leaderships skills were questioned while he was in Miami. Pouncey had not missed a game since joining the Chargers.