J.K. Dobbins was one of the most pleasant surprises of the season, emerging as the Los Angeles Chargers’ clear lead running back while staying healthy.
However, Dobbins’ went down in Week 12 in a Monday night loss against his former team, the Baltimore Ravens.
Thankfully this injury isn’t as major as the ones he suffered in Baltimore, but it’s another lower-body ailment that will keep Dobbins out for an extended period. Here’s the latest on the health of the Chargers’ RB1.
What Is J.K. Dobbins’ Injury?
Dobbins started strong in Week 12, totaling 59 yards on nine touches in the first half vs. the Ravens. However, Dobbins was crumpled up on an awkward tackle, leading to speculation about a lower-body injury. He exited the sideline with a trainer and walked to Los Angeles’ locker room late in the first half
The Chargers eventually downgraded Dobbins to out 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 (IR) 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, LCL, meniscus, and hamstring and all but one game in 2023 with a torn Achilles.
SEE MORE: NFL Injury Report
Dobbins’ regular-season status could simply depend on the Chargers’ playoff status. Los Angeles is almost certain to earn a Wild Card seed with the Kansas City Chiefs having clinched the AFC West. The Miami Dolphins and Indianapolis Colts both lost in Week 15, giving the 8-6 Chargers two games of breathing room over those teams plus the Cincinnati Bengals (all 6-8).
Two wins in the final three games will clinch the playoffs for the Chargers, and potentially less if none of those three teams can run the table. Thus, it’s possible that Los Angeles sits Dobbins until the postseason to give him more recovery time.
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 L.A.’s clear lead running back, and there’s not a one-for-one replacement on the Chargers’ roster for him.
From a fantasy football perspective, the Chargers have no clear lead back without Dobbins, with the game script dictating usage. Gus Edwards is the primary back on early run downs, while Kimani Vidal is the primary passing-down back and will see more work in games where the Chargers are trailing.
In Week 13 vs. the Atlanta Falcons, the Chargers played from ahead, which enabled Edwards to lead the backfield with 52% of the snaps. However, the Chargers have trailed for the majority of their last two games against the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, leading Vidal to outsnap Edwards 62-38 over that span.
Ultimately, neither is as effective as Dobbins or retains enough reliable volume to be a strong option for fantasy football managers. As such, the Chargers are heavily reliant on Justin Herbert and their defense to carry them while their lead back remains sidelined.