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Chargers WR Keenan Allen (ACL) officially out for year

By Matt Pagels

Aug 28, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; San Diego Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen (13) rests on the sidelines in the game with the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings win 23-10. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 28, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; San Diego Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen (13) rests on the sidelines in the game with the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings win 23-10. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports /
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We knew this was coming, and now the news is finally official.

Chargers WR Keenan Allen is out for the year after tearing his ACL in Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Chargers place Keenan Allen (ACL) on IR. Joey Bosa activated to 53-man roster.

— Michael Gehlken (@sdutGehlken) September 12, 2016

According to ESPN.com, Allen also suffered minor cartilage damage in his knee. Allen was on a tear in the first half, catching six passes for 63 yards and making Chiefs Pro Bowl CB Marcus Peters look lost.

This is so tough to write. I even refused to use the photo that saw Allen crying while being carted to the locker room. To be honest, I’m still heartbroken. Allen was one of, if not my favorite, Charger. He was one of the most underrated No. 1 receivers in the game. The Chargers’ offense took a huge hit with his absence.

Allen, 24, signed a four-year extension in the offseason, and hopefully he’ll come back strong next season. The question is, will he be able to bounce back after another devastating injury? He missed the final eight games in 2015 after lacerating his kidney. In 2014, he was sidelined for the final two games due to a broken collarbone.

So where do the Chargers go from here? Travis Benjamin and Tyrell Williams, who looked real good on Sunday after leading the team in receiving yards, are your top receivers. It’s not a bad group, but it won’t scare away opposing defenses. Philip Rivers will definitely miss Allen, but Rivers has dealt with a lot less talent at the receiver position than the one we now see before us.

Now might be the time to ride it out with running back Melvin Gordon, who was putting on a show before the coaches oddly–and annoyingly–refused to use him in the second half. He’s looking like the bell-cow back who can finally take pressure off of Rivers. The coaches need to run more two-tight end sets as well as have fullback Derek Watt in there paving the way.

The news is tough, and Mike McCoy’s coaching ability, or lack thereof, is even tougher to deal with, but there’s 15 more games to go. If the team truly believes they can still make noise this season, maybe they will make a trade for Browns receiver Josh Gordon. Gordon, who is one of the better receivers in the game, is still very young at 25 years old, but he has some baggage with him (suspended for the first four games of the season). The Browns would reportedly ship him for a second-round pick.

It’s risky, but the front office needs to start taking risks.

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