J.K. Dobbins will be out for at least the next four games after the Los Angeles Chargers placed him on injured reserve Saturday.
The team also placed safety Alohi Gilman on injured reserve and added safety Tony Jefferson to the active roster.
Dobbins hurt the MCL in his left knee late in the first half of the Chargers’ 30-23 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Monday.
Dobbins is ranked fourth in the AFC for rushing yards with 766 and averages 4.8 yards per carry, which is the third highest among AFC running backs with at least 100 carries. He had been considered a candidate for AP Comeback Player of the Year after recovering from a torn Achilles tendon in last season’s opener.
With Dobbins out, Gus Edwards will take over as the lead running back. Edwards missed four games earlier this season due to an ankle injury and has 25 carries for 93 yards in three games since coming back.
The Chargers are 7-4 and hold the sixth seed in the AFC as they head into Sunday’s game against NFC South leader Atlanta (6-5). Los Angeles will play Kansas City (10-1) in a prime-time game on Dec. 8, then host Tampa Bay (5-6) on Dec. 15 and Denver (7-5) on Dec. 19.
Gilman injured his hamstring in the loss to the Ravens. He has 47 tackles, ranking fifth on the team, along with one sack.
The Chargers also promoted cornerback Dicaprio Bootle and linebacker Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste from the practice squad for Sunday’s game.
