Los Angeles Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins suffered an MCL sprain during a Week 12 matchup with his former team, the Baltimore Ravens. He was then placed on injured reserve, which meant that he has to miss at least four games.
That would make Dobbins eligible to come back in Week 17 against the New England Patriots on Dec. 29. However, the Chargers have not yet indicated if he will be activated or not.
How Did J.K. Dobbins Land on Injured Reserve?
Through Week 11, Dobbins was having a great season. He was leading the Chargers in rushing with 726 yards and eight touchdowns on 152 carries. Averaging 4.8 yards per carry and just over 80.0 total yards per game, Dobbins was well on his way to his first 1,000-yard rushing season as a professional.
Then came the injury, on Monday Night Football against the Ravens — his former team. Dobbins was averaging more than 6.5 yards per carry in the first half when he exited the game after being hit in an awkward position. He limped off to the locker room and has been out ever since.
Dobbins has not been ruled out for the rest of the season. Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh has been playing it close to the vest as to when, or if, Dobbins returns this season.
Los Angeles needs Dobbins back, especially if they are going to make a push for the playoffs. Gus Edwards, who played with Dobbins in Baltimore, is trying to spell the former Ohio State RB but is not having much success.
Over the last three games, Edwards has averaged just 30.3 yards per game and 3.8 yards per carry. Those types of numbers will not help Harbaugh run the ball-control offense he likes to run. As a result, look for rookie Kimani Vidal to potentially receive more carries this week, as he is averaging almost half a yard better than Edwards.
The Chargers are going to need more than Justin Herbert and Ladd McConkey to win two of their next three games and get some help to make the playoffs. Los Angeles’ ground game has to check in and start flying off the line of scrimmage.
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Chargers “want to be cautious” with Dobbins and make sure he is “healed up for the stretch run of the season.” The stretch run is now, and if he can make the Patriots game later this month, the Chargers will be all the better for it.
Dobbins has a history of lower extremity injuries. He missed the entirety of the 2021 season with a torn ACL, LCL, meniscus, and hamstring and all but one game in 2023 with a torn Achilles.