Although three years of injury problems cut short J.K. Dobbins’ promising time with the Ravens, he had a strong start in his return game with the Los Angeles Chargers against Baltimore on Monday night.
However, another injury ended his night early.
Dobbins hurt his knee late in the first half and did not return for the Chargers’ 30-23 loss to the Ravens. Los Angeles coach Jim Harbaugh didn’t know how serious the injury was after the game, but the running back, who entered the night ranked third in the AFC in rushing yards, now faces another setback in his career.
“I thought we did a good job running the ball in the first half,” Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert said. “Obviously, I’m hoping J.K. is OK.”
Dobbins had gained 40 yards on his first six carries against Baltimore, showing the quickness and speed that have helped revive his career this season with the Chargers.
But about five minutes before halftime, Dobbins was tackled awkwardly by linebacker Malik Harrison and then hit by several Baltimore defenders on a play that was called back for a holding penalty against the Chargers.
After getting up, Dobbins grabbed his knee and eventually went to the Chargers’ locker room. He was ruled out for the rest of the game in the second half.
“I don’t have any update,” Harbaugh said. “I know it’s a knee.”
Although Gus Edwards stepped in for Dobbins, just like he did when they were teammates in Baltimore, he only gained 11 yards on nine carries. Without Dobbins, the Chargers struggled to move the ball, scoring just two field goals on their next five drives before adding a late touchdown in the loss, which ended their four-game winning streak.
Los Angeles finished with only 83 rushing yards, even though they came into the game with the NFL’s 12th-ranked rushing offense.
The Chargers lack many strong offensive playmakers for a seven-win team, and losing Dobbins for an extended period would make it harder for them to keep up with other top AFC teams.
Dobbins is key to the offense as one of the few proven skill players helping Herbert, who lost key receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, as well as running back Austin Ekeler, during the offseason.
The Ravens drafted Dobbins in the second round in 2020 from Ohio State, hoping he would be their main running back in an offense that has a tradition of strong rushers. But after rushing for 805 yards in 15 games as a rookie, Dobbins struggled with injuries over the next three seasons.
He tore a knee ligament in the 2021 preseason, causing him to miss the entire year and the first two weeks of the 2022 season. He injured his knee again that season, missing two months and playing only eight games. Then in the 2023 season opener, Dobbins tore his Achilles tendon, ending his season after just eight carries.
He signed a one-year deal with the Chargers in the offseason to prove he could still play in the NFL, and he has been doing well with mostly good health this year. Before Monday night’s game, Dobbins had 726 rushing yards, averaging 4.8 yards per carry, and had not missed any games. He is a strong candidate for Comeback Player of the Year after his struggles in Baltimore.
Herbert did his best to keep the Chargers competitive in the second half, but his remaining receivers couldn’t make an impact. Wide receiver Quentin Johnston had a tough game, failing to catch any of the five passes thrown his way, including three that were catchable and could have led to big gains.
“He’s done an incredible job all year, and you never want to see that,” Herbert said. “Just like when I throw an interception or when I miss a throw, he’s going to come up to me and tell me, ‘Hey, it’s the next play.’ And that’s the way it is. Everyone in that locker room is professionals, and Q will do a great job. I can give him better placement, better balls. It’s on all of us. It’s not just on him.”
Johnston had shown improvement since a difficult rookie season, catching six touchdown passes out of 22 receptions this year. But Los Angeles clearly needs more from its 2023 first-round draft pick, and Johnston knows this.
“You kind of just learn not to dwell on it too much, and just try to put it past me as much as I can,” Johnston said. “Obviously, I want to have catches back, but I can’t. So I can’t do anything but just learn from it. … I know I’ve got to get better.”
