JK Dobbins would never say that his triumphant return to the field a year after suffering a torn Achilles tendon was satisfying. Chargers The running back wouldn’t even say that running for 135 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 1 was emotional.
He has bigger plans.
“I knew I worked so hard,” Dobbins said after the game. “I knew it was going to show. I knew my prayers were going to be answered.”
After playing for the chargers In Week 1, Dobbins could become the first Chargers running back to start a season with two consecutive 100-yard rushing games when the team faces the Chargers. Carolina Panthers at 10 a.m. (Pacific Time) on Sunday.
His 13.5 yards per carry average is the highest in an NFL opening weekend among players who attempted at least 10 passes. He caught three passes for four yards. Coach Jim HarbaughWhat was most appreciated about Dobbins was that he was “elite” in pass protection.
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“I didn’t love JK’s performance,” Harbaugh said, “I loved it. In every way.”
What Dobbins didn’t like about his performance was his fitness. After a year off, he admitted he needed to get back into shape after being chased on long runs of 46 and 61 yards.
Dobbins showed he still has his top-end speed by getting past the first and second levels of defenders. According to Zebra Technologies, which partners with the NFL’s Next Gen Stats, Dobbins hit 19.92 mph on the field Sunday. That was tied with Philadelphia Eagles star Saquon Barkley for the highest top speed achieved by a running back in Week 1.
“There’s nothing more impressive than seeing someone come back from a season-ending injury and be at the same level, maybe even a little bit better: faster, stronger, quicker,” Harbaugh said. “What you know when that happens is the grueling rehab. … He really put in the work and he did it with a smile and a good mood.”
The former first-team All-American has maintained his positive attitude despite two season-ending injuries in three years. After announcing himself at the NFL level by averaging six yards per carry as a rookie for the Baltimore RavensDobbins missed the 2021 season with a torn ACL suffered in a preseason game. He returned as a full-time starter in 2022 but was slowed by another knee injury that limited him to seven games.
When Dobbins injured his Achilles tendon in last year’s season opener, he joined a growing group of NFL players who have suffered the devastating injury. study published in the International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy22 NFL players suffered Achilles tendon tears during the 2023 season. The prevalence of Achilles tendon tears in the NFL has increased three to five times.
Dobbins suffered the injury the same week as the New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgerswho later became partners as the couple rehabilitated together over the course of the season.
Rodgers and Dobbins exchanged jokes about who was working harder. Rodgers joked about how the 40-year-old quarterback dominated physical therapy compared to the 25-year-old running back. Rodgers didn’t just participate in the daily banter. He actively needed it, he said.
“He made every day of rehab a little brighter,” Rodgers said. said on the Pat McAfee Show On Tuesday, he added that it was “so cool” to see Dobbins’ success in the opener. “To see him smiling and laughing and especially healthy, I know what kind of guy he is, he’s a special human being.”
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As a free agent, Dobbins reunited with former Ravens running back Gus Edwards and Chargers offensive coordinator Greg Roman. With Dobbins sidelined last year, Edwards set career highs in rushing yards (810), attempts (198) and touchdowns (13) while starting nine of 17 appearances.
Roman had planned to use Dobbins and Edwards with the Chargers. Edwards started Sunday and had six carries for eight yards in the first half, compared to Dobbins’ two attempts for four yards.
The Chargers struggled to break through on the ground until Dobbins rushed for 46 yards on the Chargers’ fifth play of the second half, breaking up a run up the middle on third-and-1.
Dobbins finished with 10 carries to Edwards’ 11, which resulted in 26 yards.
In some running backs rooms, the committee approach can lead to tensions over playing time. Roman often catches Dobbins and Edwards standing side by side during practice, though, and the coach knows his room won’t have to worry about such issues.
“These guys are a real team,” Roman said. “They work so well together, they complement each other so well.”
Dobbins’ outgoing nature appears to be a stark contrast to Edwards’ poker face. Edwards, who joined the Ravens as an undrafted rookie in 2018, can be outgoing, Dobbins said.
Dobbins believes his gift is “being a light.”
“Even in the tough times, I keep smiling,” Dobbins said during the preseason. “Because every day is a blessing. Doing the job that I do is a blessing, especially after everything I’ve been through on the field, there’s no reason not to smile, right?”
The only reason not to smile, Dobbins said, is if his team loses. The Chargers hope to avoid that spectacle every week.
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
