Mike Tolbert Injury: San Diego Chargers Need RB as Counterweight to Ryan Mathews

The injury bug that has wrought havoc across the NFL this summer finally made its way down to sunny San Diego, biting the right knee of running back Mike Tolbert in the Chargers' 24-17 season-opening win against the Minnesota Vikings.

Tolbert underwent a precautionary MRI exam on Monday morning, though the injury does not appear to be serious. However, it remains entirely possible that Tolbert will miss some time in practice, if not San Diego's huge road game at New England this weekend.

The bruising fourth-year 'back out of Coastal Carolina (yes, that Coastal Carolina) had a terrific day, scoring three touchdowns and piling up 93 yards from scrimmage to the lead the Bolts back from a characteristically sluggish start.

If Tolbert isn't ready to go by Sunday, head coach Norv Turner will turn to Ryan Mathews to step his game up in a big way against the Patriots. The second-year 'back out of Fresno State performed well against the Vikes, piling up 118 total yards while looking much improved from his injury-riddled rookie form.

Even so, the Chargers ground game was largely ineffectual against Minnesota's run defense. Mathews and Tolbert combined for 80 yards on the ground, thereby putting the onus on Pro Bowl quarterback Philip Rivers to once again save the day.

Luckily for the Chargers, Rivers was able to oblige, more or less, pouring in 335 yards and two touchdowns, though his two picks and two sacks left some reason for concern.

Rivers will need all the help he can get from his backfield buddies against a revamped New England defense at Gillette Stadium. The Chargers have won only once in five tries against the Pats since Rivers took over as the full-time starter in 2006, with no success to speak of in Foxboro.

If that's to change this time around, San Diego must come ready with a strong ground game. That will be a difficult task if Tolbert isn't healthy enough to play this week. In essence, Tolbert is the thunder to Mathews' lightning, a 243-pound cannon ball in a 5'9" frame. Tolbert is exactly the sort of 'back the Bolts need to punish the beefed-up interior of the Pats defense. Mathews may have the speed to scoot around the likes of Mark Anderson, Albert Haynesworth and Vince Wilfork from time to time, but he lacks the power to run through them.

Hence, without Tolbert, the Chargers running attack becomes one-dimensional, which, against a quality opponent like New England, will render their entire offense one-dimensional, with that single dimension being Rivers' arm.

And remember, in two games in Massachusetts, Rivers has averaged just 190 yards per game, with twice as many picks (four) as touchdowns (two).

In short, if the Bolts have any hope of winning this week, they will need a healthy Tolbert to balance out their offense.

---

LIFE HURTS. THIS INJURY UPDATE BROUGHT TO YOU BY DICKIES.

Follow @J0shMart1n