J.K. Dobbins Makes Big Promise to Chargers After Signing

The Los Angeles Chargers completely overhauled their running back room this offseason after not re-signing veteran Austin Ekeler. Ekeler signed a two-year, $8.4 million contract with the Washington Commanders.

With Ekeler moving on to the Commanders, the Chargers signed former Baltimore Ravens running backs Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins, who are reunited with their former offensive coordinator Greg Roman.

Edwards is coming off a solid 2023 campaign with the Ravens, where he had a career-high 813 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground. However, there are question marks about the availability of Dobbins, who only played nine games over the past two seasons.

Dobbins had a chance to speak with the media Monday and reassured fans about his health this season.

“The Chargers are getting a guy that’s gonna be healthy from now on,” Dobbins said (h/t ESPN’s Kris Rhim).

Los Angeles would love to have a healthy Dobbins as he knows Roman’s system and can be a weapon on the ground and in the passing game.

Dobbins exploded onto the scene as a rookie in 2020, rushing for 805 yards and nine scores on the ground. The 5-foot-10 running back also posted 18 receptions (24 targets) for 120 yards.

Since then, the former Ohio State running back has been hit hard by the injury bug, rushing for 542 total yards and three touchdowns. Dobbins and Edwards will get the first crack at sharing the offensive load for the Chargers this summer. 

However, Chargers fans should keep an eye out for Troy running back Kimani Vidal, who was drafted in the sixth round in the 2024 NFL Draft. Vidal had an outstanding final two years at Troy, rushing for 2,793 yards and 24 touchdowns.

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