Mike Tolbert Injury: Why San Diego Chargers Could Be Devastated by RB Loss

In the fourth quarter of the San Diego Chargers 24-17 win over the Minnesota Vikings, San Diego starting running back Mike Tolbert suffered a leg injury.

Prior to that, Tolbert had three touchdowns on the day, with nine receptions for 58 yards producing two of those TDs, and 12 rushes for 35 yards for the third.

Tolbert's injury looked quite serious at the time, but in his post game question-and-answer session with the press, the back was far more optimistic, saying that he merely got rolled up on and "It's a part of football, put some dirt on it and move on."

However, it is unclear if Tolber's glibness is masking something more serious. The Chargers have yet to release an official statement on the matter, and it's quite possible Tolbert may receive more tests to determine if the injury is indeed serious.

If it is, it would be a major blow to a Chargers team that relies on Tolbert for major plays both in passing and rushing. Today, San Diego and quarterback Philip Rivers struggled to move the ball on plays not involving Tolbert.

While his backup, Ryan Matthews, is a capable player, he does not have the type of versatility that would make him an adequate replacement for Tolbert were he to miss an extended amount of time.

The main issue going forward is to confirm that Tolbert's injury is indeed as inconsequential as he made it out to be. After that, Tolbert and the Chargers have to be careful not to re-aggravate the leg.

If today's game is any indication, the Chargers need Tolbert in the game if they are going to have success scoring touchdowns and gaining yards. He's an integral—and irreplaceable—part of the Chargers offense.

It is clear that Tolbert's contributions today won the Chargers their game; if Tolbert is out, the Chargers don't just lose a player, they likely lose games too.