The Los Angeles Chargers are dealing with a brutal loss as they prepare for their playoff showdown with the New England Patriots this weekend.

Veteran nose tackle Brandon Mebane, one of the team’s captains, revealed Wednesday that his infant daughter, Makenna, died last week in Omaha due to heart complications. She had been fighting for her life since being prematurely born Nov. 12.

Mebane, in his 12th NFL season, had missed several games to be with Makenna during her battle. He was absent from the Bolts’ wild-card win in Baltimore but is back with the club now and expects to play Sunday.

This is Mebane’s second season in Los Angeles after spending a decade with the Seahawks. He’s posted 40 tackles and one sack in 12 games this season.

***

Follow Nate Davis on Twitter @ByNateDavis