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J.K. Dobbins dives into the end zone past for the game-winning touchdown against Cincinnati. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
It was one of the darkest moments in J.K. Dobbins’ career. The preseason game in 2021 when two Washington defenders sandwiched him on a tackle and bent his knee and tore two ligaments. It somehow can still bring a smile to Dobbins’ face.
“Because,” the Chargers running back said, “I made it through that storm.”
The storm of two season-ending injuries in three years has cleared to reveal wide-open running lanes for Dobbins. Entering a prime-time reunion against his former team, Dobbins is a leading candidate for NFL comeback player of the year, a resurgence that matches his new franchise’s rise.
The former Ravens second-round pick is the AFC’s third-leading rusher with 726 yards, trailing Baltimore’s Derrick Henry (1,185 yards) and Houston’s Joe Mixon (764), who have both played one game more than the Chargers’ top rusher.
The Ravens (7-4) let the 25-year-old walk during free agency. In his search for his next home, Dobbins found a team that hadn’t won a playoff game since 2018 and was hoping to establish a new identity. It’s been a perfect match for the running back who is on pace to be the Chargers’ first 1,000-yard rusher since Melvin Gordon in 2017.
“This place fits my personality,” Dobbins said. “Just keep grinding and be relentless.”
Read more: J.K. Dobbins’ touchdown run saves Chargers after they blew a 21-point lead to Bengals
Despite flashes of brilliance as a rookie and a record-setting career at Ohio State, Dobbins was not a highly coveted commodity on the free-agent market. He had played in just nine games in the last three seasons. He had not one, but two significant injuries on his ledger with the 2021 knee injury and a torn Achilles in 2023.
Instead of looking for a multi-year deal that could provide security at the uncertain position, Dobbins signed a one-year contract with the Chargers. Former…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/suffocating-couple-seasons-chargers-running-130020052.html
Author : LA Times
Publish date : 2024-11-20 13:00:00
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