Fantasy News: Chargers’ J.K. Dobbins to ‘Miss Some Time’ with Knee Sprain Injury
Mike Chiari@@mikechiariFeatured Columnist IVNovember 27, 2024
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Los Angeles Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins is reportedly expected to miss L.A.’s next game and possibly more due to a knee injury.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Dobbins suffered a sprained knee in Monday night’s loss to the Baltimore Ravens, and it will cause him to “miss some time.”
Rapoport noted that Dobbins will not play Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons, and his status is “up in the air” after that.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter provided additional insight:
Adam Schefter @AdamSchefterChargers RB J.K. Dobbins sprained his MCL and is expected to be out Sunday vs. the Falcons and week to week moving forward, per source. pic.twitter.com/EtqwV0Put2
After playing in a total of just nine games from 2021 to 2023 with the Ravens due to injury, Dobbins signed a one-year, $1.61 million contract with the Chargers in free agency this past offseason.
Dobbins was coming off a torn ACL suffered in 2021 and a torn Achilles suffered in 2023, so it was unclear what he could bring to the table, although he had youth on his side since he doesn’t turn 26 until next month.
The signing has largely paid dividends with Dobbins rushing for 766 yards and eight touchdowns on 158 carries, giving him a yards-per-carry average of 4.8. He has also contributed to the passing game with 28 receptions for 134 yards.
NFL @NFLJK DOBBINS. GO-AHEAD TD WITH 18 SECONDS LEFT.
📺: #CINvsLAC on NBC/Peacock
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/ou4r33q38K
Statistically, Dobbins is enjoying his best season since his rookie campaign with the Ravens in 2020 when the Ohio State alum rushed for 805 yards and nine scores, and averaged 6.0 yards per carry.
L.A. has provided Dobbins with some comfort and familiarity, as offensive coordinator Greg Roman was previously his OC with the Ravens from 2020 through 2022.
Dobbins also has a head coach in Jim Harbaugh, who is the brother of his former head coach with the Ravens in John Harbaugh. Like John, Jim likes to establish the run, and Dobbins has been a huge part of doing so.
With Dobbins on the shelf for at least one week and possibly more, the Chargers are likely to turn to another Ravens running back in Gus Edwards.
The Bolts signed Edwards to a two-year, $6.5 million deal during the offseason, so he was widely expected to be their top running back this season, although it didn’t work out that way.
Edwards struggled early in the year and then suffered an ankle injury that caused him to miss four games.
Overall, the powerful runner has rushed for just 206 yards and one touchdown on 63 carries this season, but his usage figures to go up significantly for as long as Dobbins is out.
Like Dobbins, Edwards has a ton of experience playing in a Roman-run offense, as they worked together in Baltimore from 2019 to 2022.
Edwards had at least 700 rushing yards in each of the four seasons in which he appeared in at least 11 games for the Ravens, plus he set career highs last season with 810 yards and 13 scores.
Along with Edwards being the lead back, the Chargers figure to work Hassan Haskins and rookie sixth-round pick Kimani Vidal into the backfield rotation on Sunday.
