LA Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins made it clear that he's ready to reestablish himself as one of the league's top backs in his media availability on Thursday. The former Baltimore stalwart made a reference to his career 5.8 yards per carry mark to reporters: "Ya'll know how much yards I averaged per carry? I don't know how many backs got that."
As detailed throughout the offseason, Dobbins comes to the Chargers at a cheap price contractually to rebuild his value after career-threatening injuries. A torn Achilles ended his season in 2023 in addition to a complete tear of his knee in 2021. Arthroscopic surgery took place midway through 2022, even though he was healthier relative to the other seasons in question.
Dobbins states that he wants to be a "healthy bully" for Jim Harbaugh's Chargers in 2024:
Chargers RB J.K. Dobbins: "I want to be a healthy bully, as Coach Harbaugh would say...We want to bully people and be able to do whatever we want to do."
— Alex Insdorf (@alexinsdorf99) July 25, 2024
"'He's been hurt', they won't be saying that this year." pic.twitter.com/nq7Wy4a0r3
J.K. Dobbins is trying to shake the injury-prone narrative on the Chargers
On his injury struggles, Dobbins acknowledged that he knows the perception and that he thinks about it himself:
"I know that I've been hurt. It's nothing I can control...If I can't walk, I'll get off the field. But you won't see me get off the field unless it's out of my control."
Dobbins referenced his Achilles injury last season as one of those "out of his control" instances. But he takes it all in stride, noting that it all contributed to the journey that brought him to LA.
While Edwards has not participated in team drills to this point, Dobbins has been a full participant in his camp workload. Considering his Achilles tear, it is good to see him take 100% of the possible reps he can this early without rep/play limitations yet:
"I feel like I'm in college out there right now. And I do think that the storm is over. Now I'm on a new journey, a healthy journey this year. You guys will see, it'll be special."
Regarding the Achilles itself, Dobbins says he actually feels faster. "This injury? I don't feel nothing."
Time will tell if Dobbins can sustain the workload of a full NFL season. One would have to go back to four years ago when he last played a near complete set of games with 15 in 2020. There are not many historical examples of players that have come back to form following Achilles and ACL ruptures in such close proximity.
However, it's nice to hear that Dobbins is making decent enough progress in his rehabilitation to potentially be one of those exceptions to the rule. As Dobbins himself said with his career 5.8 yards per carry, there's not many that can perform like him when healthy.