Melvin Gordon Injury Update: Chargers RB Ruled Out for Week 15 vs. Raiders

San Diego Chargers running back Melvin Gordon will miss the team's Week 15 game against the Oakland Raiders on Sunday while recovering from knee and hip injuries. 

Ricky Henne of the Chargers' official website reported Gordon was officially ruled out Friday.

Gordon sitting out the clash with the Raiders was always the expected outcome.

Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com reported Monday an MRI showed a hip strain and a left knee sprain after last Sunday's loss to the Carolina Panthers.

The second-year rusher out of Wisconsin appeared in each of the team's first 13 games. He's racked up 997 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground, while adding 419 yards and two more TDs coming out of the backfield in the passing game.

San Diego head coach Mike McCoy stated the fact that the team's leading rusher is just three yards away from 1,000 won't factor into the decision-making process over the final few games, per ESPN.com.

"We're not going to throw him out there so he can get a couple yards so he can say he got a thousand yards," McCoy said. "And he doesn't want that, either. I'm going to make sure that he's ready to go and be Melvin when he gets back on the field. That's the most important thing."

Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune provided Gordon's perspective Wednesday:

Although the Chargers (5-8) aren't officially eliminated from playoff contention yet, their chances are about as minuscule as it gets with three weeks to go. They would need to win out and get a massive amount of help to sneak in at 8-8. That's a consideration as he tries to make a quick return, too.

In the meantime, Kenneth Farrow is the next man up in the San Diego backfield. The rookie had 55 yards on 16 carries in relief of Gordon last week. Veteran backup Ronnie Hillman should also receive a fair share of touches until the starter is cleared to return.