Chargers Rushing For Solutions At Running Back
By Dave Thomas
When starting running back Ryan Mathews went down a week ago this past Sunday with his third significant injury in his short five years in the league, many Charger fans likely were thinking "here we go again."
Although losing your top running back is normally not a good thing, the Bolts did have some options to temporarily replace Mathews, who rushed for more than 1,000 yards a season ago. Enter Danny Woodhead and Donald Brown.
Well, after this past Sunday's 22-10 win in Buffalo, the Chargers found themselves with another problem to address, replacing Woodhead.
Following a solid season a year ago after heading west from the New England Patriots, Woodhead was expected to contribute again this season (429 yards rushing, two TD's in 2013), even with Mathews in the lineup. That all changed, unfortunately, when the diminutive back went down with a season-ending right leg injury early in the game versus the Bills.
Focus Turns To Brown, Oliver
With both Mathews (indefinitely) and Woodhead (out for the season), the Bolts have been busy trying to plug those holes, despite the fact they are 2-1 and could potentially be 6-1 heading into a late October road date (Oct. 23) in Denver.
Donald Brown emerges for now as the top back (81 yards rushing in three games), with Branden Oliver as the No. 2 guy.
San Diego announced the signing of former Chicago Bear running back/special teams player Shaun Draughn on Tuesday.
Draughn, who has seen time with the Bears, Kansas City, Baltimore and Indianapolis, was signed by the Chiefs back in 2011 as an undrafted rookie from North Carolina. He played two games for the Bears this season before being waived.
The Chargers also announced on Tuesday that they had signed running back DJ Adams to the practice squad. Adams, who was with the Chargers back in June, had most recently been on the Dallas roster before the Cowboys released him.
So, is this a Chargers squad that can make a run at an AFC West crown and move past last year's second-round AFC playoff ouster given their issues at the running back position?
Much of that hinges on whether or not Mathews can come back sooner rather than later. If the Fresno State product is back sometime next month, then the Bolts could be in okay shape with their running game, especially since it looks like QB Philip Rivers is on target for another strong season throwing the ball.
If San Diego struggles to move the ball on the ground (Chargers were not piling up big rushing numbers in their first couple of games with both Mathews and Woodhead in the lineup), then much of the pressure could turn to Rivers, Keenan Allen and Antonio Gates to move the ball down the field.
For the Chargers and their fans, both hope they have a run in them to the playoffs once again.
For more Chargers news and updates, visit Chargers Central.
Dave Thomas has been covering the sports world since his first job as a sports editor for a weekly newspaper in Pennsylvania back in 1989. He has covered a Super Bowl, college bowl games, MLB, NBA and more. His work can be found on Examiner.com.
