Chargers vs. Colts: 5 biggest storylines ahead of Week 7 game

The Chargers have a surprisingly important AFC showdown on deck with the Colts coming to SoFi Stadium on Sunday.

Here are a few storylines to track during the game.

Who do the Chargers get back?

Los Angeles has designated linebacker Denzel Perryman and edge rusher Khalil Mack to return from injured reserve in recent weeks, and both have logged practice sessions this week. Offensive tackle Joe Alt and returner Derius Davis also returned to practice this week after missing multiple games each. All four have pivotal roles for the Chargers, even if Davis struggled slightly on returns before his injury, and their potential returns could turn the tide against a rolling Colts squad. If only one or two are back on Sunday, however, LA may not have enough firepower to get past Indianapolis.

Can Kimani Vidal do it again?

Vidal took 18 carries for 124 yards last week as the Chargers' starting running back with Omarion Hampton and Najee Harris on injured reserve. But that performance did come against a Dolphins squad that currently ranks 30th in the NFL in rushing EPA/play allowed, so a matchup with an average (15th-ranked) Colts unit will be a much better test for the second-year back. Vidal's performance is key both for a potential win and for Los Angeles' calculus on whether or not they need to make a trade for a running back before the November 4 deadline.

Can the run defense step up?

Colts running back Jonathan Taylor leads the league in rushing yards by 70 entering Week 7 with 603 yards and a league-leading 7 touchdowns. The Chargers struggled to defend the run against Miami, allowing De'Von Achane to go over 100 yards on runs that primarily attacked the perimeter of LA's defense. Getting Perryman and/or Mack back will help the Chargers defend those concepts with a bit more vigor, but they'll need more than just a veteran return from injury to limit Taylor on Sunday.

What does Odafe Oweh's role look like?

Oweh played only 29 of the Chargers' 59 snaps last week after arriving on Wednesday via trade from the Ravens, but he logged a sack against Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and brought pass rush juice outside of Tuli Tuipulotu that LA had sorely been missing. With Mack's status up in the air and Oweh having another week to get acclimated in Los Angeles, does he take a bigger share of the snaps? If Mack does come back, tracking how the Chargers deploy the healthy trio will also be worth tracking. Colts quarterback Daniel Jones has only been sacked 5 times, the fewest in the league.

How do the Chargers attack the turnover battle?

Indianapolis holds a +5 turnover differential on the season, while the Chargers are at -1 through six games. LA's defense has primarily created turnovers in two games this year - Week 2 at the Raiders and last week at the Dolphins, which both involved three interceptions for the Chargers defense. But LA has struggled to take the ball away outside those two efforts, and the Colts have done a better-than-expected job taking care of the ball and keeping Daniel Jones from throwing risky passes. LA will need to find a way to ratchet up the pressure and get Jones off-kilter to win that battle on Sunday.

This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: What should Chargers fans watch for in Week 7 game vs. Colts?