J.K. Dobbins, Chargers Agree to Contract in 2024 NFL Free Agency After Ravens Stint

Tyler Conway@@jtylerconwayFeatured Columnist IVApril 17, 2024

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The Los Angeles Chargers and running back JK Dobbins agreed to a one-year deal Wednesday, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

He is joining a former teammate in his new home:

Adam Schefter @AdamSchefterChargers now have two Ravens running backs, JK Dobbins and Gus Edwards. https://t.co/wGnsjAgyRh

Dobbins also confirmed the news on X:

Jk dobbins @Jkdobbins22Let’s do it 🩵 #LaVuelta

Dobbins, 25, played out the final year of his rookie contract in 2023 but was again plagued by injuries.

A 2020 second-round pick, Dobbins has been consistently effective when healthy but has found himself on the sidelines more often than the field. He’s missed 43 games and played in 24 over the course of his four-year career, calling into question whether he can withstand the rigors of an NFL schedule.

The Baltimore Ravens seemed understandably willing to head into the 2023 season with Dobbins playing out the final year of his contract. Dobbins will find a taker in Los Angeles that hopes he’ll be able to rebound from the injury.

“The business side is very hard. It’s very different,” Dobbins told WJZ Sports. “But it’s part of it. It’s part of the dream and it’s something that I’m blessed with, to deal with the business side of that. You saw with Lamar [Jackson], it’s never just roses and daisies. It can be hard at times. It’s business, though.”

When Dobbins is on the field, there’s no questioning he’s a dynamic rusher. He’s racked up 1,347 yards on 234 career carries, good for a 5.8 yards-per-carry average, while also flashing explosive playmaking ability.

The Chargers already signed former Ravens running back Gus Edwards this offseason, so it’s clear Jim Harbaugh had an affinity to what his brother, John, was doing in Baltimore. Los Angeles allowed longtime starter Austin Ekeler to leave in free agency.