With a playoff spot potentially on the line, the LA Chargers will take on the Denver Broncos at SoFi Stadium on Thursday night. However, they will once again be without running back JK Dobbins.
The Chargers’ offensive woes, particularly since Dobbins’ injury, have been a major factor in their losses in each of their last two games. The 26-year-old running back, who has a long history of injuries in the NFL, has not played since Week 12, when he faced the Baltimore Ravens.
Find out below why JK Dobbins will not be available for Thursday’s game against the Broncos.
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Why isn’t JK Dobbins playing Thursday night against the Denver Broncos?
The LA Chargers placed JK Dobbins on injured reserve after spraining his MCL during Monday night’s Week 12 game against the Baltimore Ravens. This means that before he can be eligible to return to the field, he must miss a minimum of four games.
Will JK Dobbins still play this season?
Having already lost games against the Atlanta Falcons, Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dobbins can be activated from injured reserve in Week 17, when the Bolts are scheduled to face the New England Patriots. However, Los Angeles has not revealed whether he will return for that game.
Coach Jim Harbaugh noted before the game against Atlanta two weeks ago that Dobbins is recovering from a knee injury and expects him to miss some time.
Dobbins has a well-documented injury history in the NFL, having played in just nine games over the past two seasons due to a sore Achilles tendon and a torn ACL. The Bolts could get a push toward the postseason if the star running back returns in Week 17.
Who will be the Chargers’ number one RB against the Broncos in the absence of JK Dobbins?
The LA Chargers’ offensive fluidity has been hampered by the unavailability of JK Dobbins, leading to an over-reliance on quarterback Justin Herbert. In the last three outings, the team’s alternate running backs, Kimani Vidal and Gus Edwards, have failed to adequately replace Dobbins, raising questions about the team’s chances of making the playoffs.
That said, Edwards and Vidal are expected to continue sharing backfield snaps for the Bolts when they host the Broncos in primetime tonight.
Edited by R. Elahi