How long is J.K. Dobbins out for? Explaining Chargers RB's injury timeline

Los Angeles Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins hurt his left knee in the game against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 12. He was placed on injured reserve shortly after it was revealed that his injury was an MCL sprain.

Dobbins' addition on injured reserve will keep him out of action for at least four weeks, but it's not as bad as the ACL injury he sustained in 2021, which kept him out of games throughout his entire second season in the league.

Dobbins will be out until Week 16. The Chargers' Week 17 game against the New England Patriots is the earliest Dobbins may return to the field.

For a player with a typical MCL sprain, four weeks might be a fair amount of time off, but given Dobbins' long-standing track record of lower body ailments, it's not a given that he won't be out longer.

The fifth-year running back only played one game in 2023 due to a torn Achilles and sat out the whole 2021 season due to a torn ACL.

Some speculated that the 25-year-old running back may not return until the end of the regular season. However, no reliable information has been released, so it's unclear if he will return before the postseason begins.

In addition, Los Angeles' playoff standing may be another factor in determining Dobbins' possible comeback in the regular season. It's feasible that the Chargers will keep Dobbins for the postseason if they have already secured a postseason ticket by the time he is eligible to return.

J.K. Dobbins injury update: What happened to the Chargers' RB?

J.K. Dobbins gained 40 yards on his first six rushes in Week 12's Monday Night Football 30-23 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. However, he walked to the team's locker room after leaving the game due to an injury late in the first half.

The Chargers first disclosed that the running back had suffered a left knee injury, which was ultimately determined to be an MCL sprain. The team then made the decision to place him on the injured reserve list.

In 11 games this season, J.K. Dobbins has amassed 766 rushing yards from 158 rush attempts and eight touchdowns, averaging an outstanding 69.6 rushing yards per contest. He has also been productive in the team's passing offense, hauling in 28 passes for 134 yards.

The Chargers will continue to rely on veteran running back Gus Edwards and rookie Kimani Vidal to shoulder their backfield work while Dobbins remains out.