J.K. Dobbins Eyed by Chargers After Being Cleared from Injury amid NFL Free Agency | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors
Free-agent running back J.K. Dobbins is scheduled to visit with the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday, according to his agency LAA Sports, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Dobbins, 25, missed all but one game last season with the Baltimore Ravens after suffering a torn Achilles in Week 1.
That came on the heels of Dobbins missing the entire 2021 season with a torn ACL and nine games during the 2022 campaign due to a different knee injury.
While injuries have ravaged Dobbins' NFL career thus far, he has been an explosive and productive player when healthy.
His healthiest season was as a rookie in 2020 when he appeared in 15 games and set career highs with 805 rushing yards, nine rushing touchdowns and 6.0 yards per carry.
Dobbins followed that up with 520 yards and two touchdowns on 92 carries in 2022 after missing the entire 2021 season.
Prior to getting injured in the 2023 season opener, Dobbins had 22 yards and a touchdown on eight carries, plus two receptions for 15 yards.
The Ohio State product has a link to the Chargers, as his best seasons in 2020 and 2022 came when Greg Roman was the Ravens' offensive coordinator. Now, Roman is the OC in L.A. under head coach Jim Harbaugh.
Dobbins averaged about 5.9 yards per carry in two seasons with Roman as his offensive coordinator, which suggests Roman could potentially get the most out of him again with the Chargers if he can stay healthy.
The Chargers already raided the Ravens' running back room this offseason by signing longtime Ravens running back Gus Edwards to a two-year, $6.5 million contract.
Dobbins would give Roman another running back who he is familiar with and the Chargers a much-needed complementary back, as none of the other running backs on their roster have enjoyed much success at the NFL level in the wake of Austin Ekeler leaving for the Washington Commanders in free agency,
Health is always going to be the biggest question mark when it comes to Dobbins, but there are positive reports surrounding him currently.
NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported this week that Dobbins has been cleared for football activities and that Dr. Neal ElAttrache wrote a letter to some NFL teams, telling them that Dobbins looks "outstanding."
Although the risk of injury is high for Dobbins, it would likely still be a low-risk signing for the Chargers in terms of how much money they would have to commit.
With Dobbins coming off so many injuries, it is doubtful he will command a high salary, which means the Chargers could potentially get a ton of production out of him at a low price if they sign him.
