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5 Chargers Who Won't Return in 2025 With Season Officially Over

By Joseph Grassano

Dec 23, 2023; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. (26) enters the field before the game against the Buffalo Bills at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Dec 23, 2023; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. (26) enters the field before the game against the Buffalo Bills at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
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Jim Harbaugh led the Los Angeles Chargers to a surprising 11-6 record in his first season as the team's head coach. Although Harbaugh has built a reputation for turning around organizations quickly, many expected the Chargers to be a few games over .500 at best due to the holes their roster possessed, especially at wide receiver.

Nevertheless, Harbaugh's coaching and talent acquisition in other areas last offseason made up for the lack of talent, at least in the regular season. That said, Los Angeles will have to make many tough decisions regarding what players to bring back this offseason.

The Chargers have 20-plus players set to be unrestricted or restricted free agents on March 10. With that in mind, here are five Chargers who likely won't return in 2025.

1. J.K. Dobbins, RB

The Chargers signed J.K. Dobbins to a one-year $1.61 million contract on April 18. Since his rookie year, Dobbins has dealt with many season-ending leg injuries, which is part of the reason why his one-year deal was so affordable.

Dobbins still possessing speed and explosiveness, though, was certainly a huge factor in the Chargers signing him. Harbaugh loves to build his teams to have a run game, and in this day and age, you need at least one back who can go for a touchdown at any given moment.

Through the first 11 games this season, Dobbins was proving to be worth the risk, rushing for 763 yards while adding 134 through the air and scoring eight touchdowns. Unfortunately, he sprained his left knee in Week 12 against his former team, the Baltimore Ravens. During his absence, the Chargers' running game struggled.

This injury landed Dobbins on injured reserve, causing him to miss the next four games. Thankfully, he returned for Los Angeles's toe final regular season matches, adding 142 more rushing yards, 19 more receiving yards, and one more touchdown.

Dobbins finished the 2024 season with 905 rushing yards on 195 carries, 143 receiving yards on 32 receptions and nine total touchdowns. All things considered, that's a very good season for Dobbins.

Despite that, there is a 60/40 chance Dobbins returns in 2025. Ultimately, Harbaugh and the Chargers want to continue taking a chance on a player with major injury concerns.

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