The one silver lining that may save the Chargers with J.K. Dobbins out

J.K. Dobbins' comeback year has been one of the best stories of the NFL season in 2024. Unfortunately, that comeback is going to be put on pause as the LA Chargers running back is officially sidelined with another knee injury.

Dobbins left Week 12's game against the Baltimore Ravens early due to the injury and the offense was never quite the same. On Wednesday, Chargers fans' fears were confirmed as it was reported that Dobbins would miss "some time" with the injury.

It is unclear exactly how long Dobbins will be out as his status after Week 13's game against the Atlanta Falcons remains up in the air. While early signs are positive that he will return for a playoff run, the Chargers may need Dobbins back sooner than that.

However, there is one silver lining to the injury that may keep the Chargers' run game afloat. While Gus Edwards will be the team's lead back, Dobbins' injury opens the door for an exciting Chargers rookie to earn his keep.

J.K. Dobbins opens a door for Kimani Vidal to prove himself to the Chargers

The Chargers selected Kimani Vidal in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft and he has built quite a fanbase despite hardly playing for the team. Vidal's college tape jumped off the screen as his intangibles are eerily similar to that of Austin Ekeler back when he burst onto the scene for the Bolts.

Vidal instantly validated any hype around him in his NFL debut against the Denver Broncos earlier this season. The rookie running back's first-ever NFL touch was a 20-yard receiving touchdown on a wheel route in man coverage.

Vidal played in four games with Gus Edwards on the shelf earlier this season but with Dobbins healthy he did not receive much playing time. In those four games Vidal carried the ball 18 times for 44 yards with three receptions for 49 yards.

The rushing totals may not be impressive but Chargers fans should not judge the rookie on that limited sample size. Vidal has legitimate potential to be a dual-threat running back and with Justin Herbert's tendency to target running backs in the passing game, Vidal might be forced into a bigger role in his rookie season.

Vidal isn't going to be a one-for-one replacement for Dobbins. Forcing him into a bigger role, though, will show the Chargers exactly what they have in the sixth-round pick. This will help the team make more informed decisions not just on a playoff run, but in the future as well.

If Vidal balls out and proves he might be ready to blossom into an RB1 next season then it completely changes the dynamic of the Chargers' upcoming offseason. Without giving Vidal this chance, the Chargers would have gone into the offseason with limited information.