Melvin Ingram placed on IR to return

Melvin Ingram missed a chunk of last season before rehabbing back to the field.

He’ll have to do so again.

A hip injury forced the Chargers outside linebacker to be placed Saturday on injured reserve with a designation to return. He is eligible to play again this season but cannot practice for at least six weeks and must miss at least seven games. At the very earliest, he’ll be sidelined until a Nov. 16, Week 11 game versus the Raiders.

Ingram battled a hamstring ailment this month.

It is unclear how or when he incurred the hip injury, although he underwent an MRI on Thursday and “hip” was added to “hamstring” on Friday’s injury report. The team also announced Friday he wouldn’t face the Bills on Sunday. He didn’t practice all week.

Ingram may be the Chargers’ top edge rusher.

He and fellow outside linebacker Dwight Freeney are one of four players tied for the NFL lead with eight quarterback hurries in the first two weeks. Ingram totaled six last Sunday versus Seattle, also forcing a Russell Wilson fumble on a second-quarter sack.

Along with Freeney, the Chargers have rookie second-round pick Jerry Attaochu and 2013 sixth-round pick Tourek Williams at the position. Inside linebacker Reggie Walker can play outside, having done so at times each of the past two seasons. He may be needed Sunday.

Attaochu didn’t practice this week due to a hamstring injury, listed as questionable to play Buffalo.

Cordarro Law is available on the practice squad, but he’s yet to be promoted.

Ingram missed the first 12 games in 2013 due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament. This year, the road back begins with a six-week dead period of practice. He is eligible to begin practicing anytime afterward, a 21-day window initiating when he does. At window’s end, he must either be activated onto the 53-man roster or lose eligibility to play this season.

Ingram is 25. He was a first-round draft pick in 2012.