INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Though three years of damage issues ruined J.Okay. Dobbins’ once-promising tenure with the Ravens, he was off to a powerful begin Monday night time in his reunion recreation towards Baltimore.
After which one other damage ended one more night time early for the Los Angeles Chargers’ star-crossed new operating again.
Dobbins damage his knee late within the first half and didn’t return to the Chargers’ 30-23 loss to the Ravens. Los Angeles coach Jim Harbaugh didn’t know the severity of the damage after the sport, however the ball-carrier who started the night time third within the AFC in yards dashing should combat again from one more setback to his promising profession.
“I believed we did an excellent job operating the ball within the first half,” Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert stated. “Clearly I’m hoping J.Okay. is OK.”
Dobbins had 40 yards on his first six carries towards Baltimore, displaying off the elusiveness and velocity which have revitalized his profession this yr in Los Angeles.
However Dobbins bought damage about 5 minutes earlier than halftime when he was wrenched backward by linebacker Malik Harrison after which gang-tackled by Baltimore on a play erased by a holding penalty towards the Chargers.
Dobbins grabbed his knee after getting up, and he finally went to the Bolts’ locker room. He was dominated out for the night time within the second half.
“I don’t have any replace,” Harbaugh stated. “I do know it’s a knee.”
Though backup Gus Edwards stepped in for Dobbins — simply as he did in Baltimore once they have been teammates with the Ravens — he managed solely 11 yards on 9 carries. The Chargers struggled to maneuver the ball in Dobbins’ absence, managing simply two discipline objectives on their subsequent 5 drives earlier than tacking on a late landing within the loss that snapped their four-game successful streak.
Los Angeles completed with simply 83 yards on the bottom after coming into the weekend with the NFL’s Twelfth-ranked dashing offense.
The Chargers have remarkably few standout offensive playmakers for a seven-win staff, and a chronic absence for Dobbins would severely check their potential to maintain up with different elite AFC offenses.
Dobbins is important as maybe essentially the most confirmed skill-position participant serving to Herbert, who misplaced receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams and operating again Austin Ekeler within the offseason.
The Ravens drafted Dobbins within the second spherical in 2020 out of Ohio State, envisioning him as the subsequent workhorse again in an offense with a historical past of sturdy rushers. However after Dobbins rushed for 805 yards in 15 video games as a rookie, he performed in simply 9 video games over the subsequent three seasons.
Dobbins tore a knee ligament within the preseason in 2021, sidelining him for the yr and the primary two weeks of the 2022 season. He promptly injured his knee once more and missed two months, limiting him to eight video games in 2022.
Dobbins then tore his Achilles tendon within the Ravens’ 2023 season opener, ending one other season after solely eight carries.
He signed a one-year cope with the Chargers through the offseason as an opportunity to show he may nonetheless compete within the NFL — and he has been excellent with largely good well being on the West Coast.
Dobbins entered Monday night time with 726 yards dashing on 4.8 yards per carry, and he hasn’t missed a recreation this season. He’s clearly a candidate for Comeback Participant of the Yr after his struggles in Baltimore.
Herbert fought to maintain Los Angeles in rivalry through the second half, however his remaining targets couldn’t make the distinction. Receiver Quentin Johnson had a very tough night time, with no receptions on 5 targets — together with three very catchable balls that may have resulted in vital positive factors.
“He’s finished an unimaginable job all yr, and also you by no means need to see that,” Herbert stated. “Similar to after I throw an interception or after I miss a throw, he’s going to return as much as me and inform me, ‘Hey, it’s the subsequent play.’ And that’s the best way it’s. Everybody in that locker room is professionals, and Q will do an ideal job. I may give him higher placement, higher balls. It’s on all of us. It’s not simply on him.
Johnston had improved from his troublesome rookie season this fall, catching six landing passes amongst his modest 22 receptions. However Los Angeles clearly wants extra from its 2023 first-round draft decide, and Johnston is aware of it.
“You type of simply study to not dwell on it an excessive amount of, and simply attempt to put it previous me as a lot as I can,” Johnston stated. “Clearly I need to have catches again, however I can’t. So I can’t do something however simply study from it. … I do know I’ve bought to get higher.”
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