Running back J.K. Dobbins suffered an MCL injury midway through the year, but the Chargers starter should return to the field before long. Recently activated from the injured reserve, Dobbins began the season fighting for the starting job with fellow former Raven Gus Edwards. While the two split carries early in the season, Dobbins quickly earned the starting job and never looked back. Through the first 11 games of the season, the former second-round pick recorded 158 carries for 766 yards and eight touchdowns, good for 4.8 yards per attempt.
Unfortunately, the injury bug bit, landing Dobbins on the injured reserve. However, the Chargers activated his practice window, which means he should be back on the field for the start of the playoffs. Based on potential seeding, there’s a decent chance Dobbins makes his return against his old team, the Baltimore Ravens.
J.K. Dobbins Could Get Revenge Against Ravens With Chargers Return
J.K. Dobbins entered the league as a second-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. Selected by the Baltimore Ravens, the Ohio State product impressed as a rookie, averaging 6.0 yards per attempt while splitting work with Edwards and veteran Mark Ingram. After Ingram departed in 2021, Dobbins had a clear path to the unquestioned starting job. Unfortunately, a knee injury sidelined him for all of 2022 and limited him to eight games in 2023.
Entering the final year of his rookie contract, Dobbins tried to secure an extension prior to the start of the 2024 season. Unfortunately, nothing came of his request and the running back entered the season hoping to prove himself. That didn’t happen, as he tore his Achilles during Week 1. Historically considered the kiss of death to running backs, Baltimore believed Dobbins would never return to form, allowing him to walk in free agency while bringing in superstar Derrick Henry.
While his MCL injury sidelined him for part of the season, Dobbins proved he could return to form with the Chargers. While every player brings their best to the postseason, the Wild Card round could be personal for Dobbins.
Playoff Seeding
As of this posting, the Baltimore Ravens and Los Angeles Chargers are the fifth and sixth seeds in the playoff picture, respectively. If this remains the case heading after Week 18, then the earliest these teams could face off is in the AFC Championship Game. However, there is a decent chance the seedings change between now and the end of the regular season.
At 10-5, the Ravens are tied with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the AFC North lead. While Pittsburgh has the tiebreaker, the final two games could determine who hosts a playoff game. Baltimore finishes the season with two winnable matchups against a banged-up Houston Texans squad and Dorian Thompson-Robinson’s Cleveland Browns. Pittsburgh, meanwhile, has to play the Kansas City Chiefs and a desperate Cincinnati Bengals squad.
If the Ravens win out and the Steelers lose a game, then Baltimore will win the AFC North and likely claim the third seed in the playoff picture. This means they will host the sixth seed in the Wild Card round, which could easily be the Chargers. While the Ravens should be favored in this matchup, Dobbins will do everything in his power to make sure the Chargers don’t go down without a fight.
Main Photo: Gary A. Vasquez – USA Today Sports
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