Los Angeles Chargers: Even if healthy, Melvin Gordon should sit Week 14
By Jason Reed
The Los Angeles Chargers were without Melvin Gordon against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday Night and should be without him against the Cincinnati Bengals.
When Melvin Gordon went down on a reverse end around against the Arizona Cardinals everyone associated with the Los Angeles Chargers collectively held their breath.
Initial thoughts had everyone pointing to Gordon’s MCL. If the injury was serious and it was an MCL tear, Gordon’s year would have effectively been done. This would have been a huge blow to the Los Angeles Chargers, who rely on Gordon to get things going.
Gordon has never been 100 percent healthy in his NFL career but he has always been great for the Chargers. This year seemed to be his coming out party as one of the elite running backs in the NFL.
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The crisis was averted as it was reported that the injury was simply an MCL sprain, not a tear and that Gordon would be evaluated on a week-by-week basis. Barring a freak setback, Gordon will be available before the season ends and should be in the backfield for the postseason.
Even though the crisis was averted, it still was a blow to the team, who was facing the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 13 without Gordon. This was even more troubling after watching the first half in which Austin Ekeler, who is usually great in his role alongside Gordon, could only muster one yard on eight carries.
The second half was much more promising as Justin Jackson begin to get some looks and not only capitalized on some running lanes but extended runs. He had a huge 18-yard rush that gave the Chargers the lead in the fourth quarter and finished the night with eight carries for 63 yards and a touchdown. He also added a 19-yard reception.
Having Jackson’s solid performance on Sunday Night Football definitely makes Charger fans feel better about the running back situation. However, Melvin Gordon is still the guy and the Chargers cannot bank on one showing from Jackson.
Even though the Chargers need Gordon, the team should hold him out one more week, even if he is healthy and ready to go.
Los Angeles is coming up against a depleted Cincinnati Bengals team that is poorly coached and is without Andy Dalton and A.J. Green. A game that seemed like a tough matchup two months ago is now a game that the Chargers should handily win.
A running back cast of Ekeler and Jackson should be enough with Philip Rivers under center against a Bengals team that will struggle to put up points on this Chargers’ defense.
On the horizon is the Kansas City Chiefs. The Los Angeles Chargers still have a roadmap in which they can win the AFC West and need Gordon at full strength in KC in Week 15.
If that means sitting Gordon out against the Bengals then so be it. If there is even a one percent doubt that he is not fully healthy he should sit out. If the team is 100 percent certain that he is healthy then I could see him getting some playing time to get back in a rhythm.
Personally, I would sit him out at 100 percent to risk re-aggravating the injury. If the Chargers do indeed to play Gordon, he should be on a pitch count and only carry the ball 10-12 times and let Ekeler and Jackson do most of the heavy lifting.
Next. Two teams that can beat the Chiefs and help LA. dark
Either way, the Chargers should not be running Gordon out there a ton next week. If it was up to me, I would sit him out altogether and prepare for the big game against the Chiefs.