Chargers' J.K. Dobbins Placed on IR with Knee Injury Suffered vs. Ravens, Out 4 Games

The Los Angeles Chargers placed running back J.K. Dobbins on injured reserve due to an MCL sprain that he suffered during a 30-23 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Monday.

According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, the Chargers "want to be cautious" with Dobbins' injury and ensure that he's "healed up for the stretch run" of the season.

The 25-year-old will now miss a minimum of four games, meaning that his earliest opportunity to return is against the New England Patriots on Dec. 29.

Dobbins picked up 40 yards on six carries in the first two quarters against Baltimore and didn't play in the second half after sustaining the injury.

The former second-round pick was off to a strong start in his first year with the Chargers, totaling 900 all-purpose yards and eight touchdowns in 11 appearances while averaging a career-high 69.6 yards per game on the ground.

Dobbins was originally selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2020 NFL draft before signing a one-year contract with Los Angeles as a free agent in April.

He averaged 5.8 yards per carry as a member of the Ravens, although he struggled to stay on the field as the start of his career was marred by health issues. Dobbins missed the entire 2021 season with a torn ACL and only appeared in eight games during his 2022 campaign with another knee injury.

His 2023 season was also cut short due to an Achilles tear suffered in Week 1.

While Dobbins may be able to return before the regular season comes to a close, it's still a tough blow to a Chargers team attempting to secure a playoff spot with a 7-4 record.

In his absence, Los Angeles should turn to Gus Edwards and will likely utilize quarterback Justin Herbert's ability to make plays with his legs.