Ryan Mathews Injury: Bye Week Saves Nicked Up Chargers' Star for Long-Haul

The San Diego Chargers need their top running back Ryan Mathews healthy for the long haul, and while bye weeks usually hurt the momentum of a team, this couldn’t have come at a better time for the bolts.

Mathews has battled injuries through his short time in the NFL, and as a running back at the highest level, they are to be expected.

Where it gets tougher for the Chargers is when their bruising running back Mike Tolbert could be out for an extended period of time with a concussion.

With Tolbert sidelined, the bye week will help Mathews heal the calf injury that has been bothering him, as well as the wrist injury and foot issues.

Basically, Mathews is the walking wounded and the bye week will be the rest the finesse back needs to become affective again for the run for the playoffs.

The Chargers have started the season fast with a 4-1 record, something they struggled to do in the recent past, so whenever they can get Mathews rest, they will do so to keep him as close to 100 percent when playoff time comes around.

Despite having to leave the game early Sunday against the Denver Broncos, Mathews still managed 24 carries for 125 yards. Not too shabby for a man riddled with nagging injuries.

While the bye week is a temporary reprieve, its right back into the fire for Mathews in Week 7 when San Diego travels across the country to play the New York Jets in their building.

Without Mathews close to 100 percent for the Chargers matchup with the Jets, there isn’t much chance that San Diego can pull a big victory off and assert their dominance on the AFC.

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