Facebook Pixel

    How Long Will J.K. Dobbins Be Out? Latest Injury Update for the Chargers RB

    J.K. Dobbins had defied his lengthy injury history until Week 12, when the Los Angeles Chargers running back departed his club’s Monday night loss to the Baltimore Ravens and never returned.

    Here’s the latest on the status of the Chargers’ starting running back.

    Pro Football Network Mock Draft Simulator
    Take control of your favorite team's salary cap and manage the roster through free agency!

    What Is J.K. Dobbins’ Injury?

    Dobbins got off to a strong start in Week 12, totaling 59 yards on nine touches in the first half. However, Dobbins exited the sideline with a trainer and walked to Los Angeles’ locker room late in the first half. He was crumpled up on an awkward tackle, leading to speculation about a lower body injury.

    The Chargers eventually downgraded Dobbins with a left knee injury, which was subsequently revealed to be an MCL sprain.

    When Will Dobbins Return From Injury?

    Dobbins was placed on injured reserve the day before the Chargers’ Week 13 game, knocking him out of action for a minimum of four games. The earliest he’s eligible to return is Los Angeles’ Week 17 game at the New England Patriots.

    That, however, doesn’t mean that Dobbins is a lock to return for that game. Four weeks may be a reasonable length of absence for an average MCL sprain, but that also doesn’t factor in Dobbins’ extensive history of lower body injuries. He missed the entirety of the 2021 season with a torn ACL and all but one game in 2023 with a torn Achilles.

    Dobbins’ regular-season status could simply depend on the Chargers’ playoff status. With Los Angeles in strong shape for a Wild Card berth but highly unlikely to catch the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West, it’s possible the Chargers preserve Dobbins for the playoffs if they’re already locked into a playoff spot.

    How Will Dobbins’ Absence Impact the Chargers?

    Dobbins was having an excellent season, averaging a robust 4.8 yards per carry while also adding 28 catches for 134 yards in the passing game. His three-down value made him LA’s clear lead back, and there’s not a one-for-one replacement on the Chargers’ roster for him.

    Including the Baltimore Ravens game in which Dobbins got hurt, the Chargers have averaged 3.9 yards per carry from their running backs in the last two weeks. That’s put more on Justin Herbert’s plate, who had his second-highest dropback rate (65.1%) in Week 13 vs. the Atlanta Falcons.

    From a fantasy perspective, it does appear that Gus Edwards is the clear lead back. Los Angeles ran just 46 plays vs. the Falcons, making for a bit of a tough read since no one got more than six carries. However, the snap share tells a different story, particularly Edwards’ involvement on passing downs.

    For perspective, Dobbins has a 60% snap share this season, so it doesn’t appear that Jim Harbaugh has strayed too far from having a clear lead back. That could certainly change if Edwards struggles or if the Chargers trail for a much longer portion of a game. At that point, Kimani Vidal would likely cut into Edwards’ workload.

    2025 NFL Mock Draft Simulator

    The PFN Mock Draft Simulator features hundreds of prospects, scouting reports, and free trades -- jump into the FREE mock draft machine and get ready for the 2025 NFL Draft.

    2025 NFL Season & Playoff Predictor

    PFSN's 2025 NFL Season and Playoff Predictor is a tool that allows you to play out various weekly scenarios to see how the NFL playoff picture changes with each scenario.

    NFL Offseason Manager: Salary Cap, Free Agency, and More

    Do you think you can manage your favorite team’s roster better than the real-life general managers? PFN's Offseason Manager is here to help you prove it.

    Guess the NFL Player

    Test your NFL knowledge with PFSN's Guess the NFL Player game, the ultimate NFL player guessing game for football fans!

    Colts Predicted To Add Another Option To QB Room, Selecting 78-TD Quarterback in 2025 NFL Draft

    After causing a stir by signing Daniel Jones in free agency, the Colts are predicted to double down on the drama, drafting another QB on day two.

    Broncos Predicted To Replace Javonte Williams By Selecting 23-TD RB in 2025 NFL Draft

    The Denver Broncos are predicted to add an explosive rookie running back in the early rounds of April's draft after struggling at the position in 2024.

    NFL Analyst Argues That Josh Allen’s ‘Bargain’ $350,000,000 Contract Puts Major Pressure On Bills’ Front Office

    NFL analyst Mina Kimes believes the contract extension of Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen places pressure on the team's front office.

    Former Cowboys Player Weighs In On Micah Parson-DeMarcus Lawrence Beef, Rips Owner Jerry Jones

    Former NFL player and ex-Cowboy Chris Canty went on Get Up and criticized Jerry Jones, saying that he had to leave Dallas to win a Super Bowl.
    Join the Conversation!

    LEAVE A REPLY

    Please enter your comment!
    Please enter your name here