RB J.K. Dobbins to visit Chargers

Free-agent running back J.K. Dobbins is scheduled to visit the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday, his agency confirmed to ESPN.

Dobbins has been cleared for football activities after working his way back from a torn Achilles in Week 1 of last season.

Injuries have defined Dobbins' NFL career since he was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of Ohio State.

After rushing for 805 yards and nine touchdowns in his rookie season, Dobbins missed the entire 2021 campaign with a torn ACL. He played four games in 2022 before requiring arthroscopic knee surgery and was unavailable until Week 14.

All told, Dobbins has played just nine out of a possible 51 regular-season games over the past three seasons. He has rushed for 1,347 yards with 12 touchdowns in 24 career games.

Dobbins, 25, will see a few familiar faces during his visit with the Chargers, however. Fellow running back Gus Edwards signed a two-year, $6.5 million contract with Los Angeles earlier this month, and former Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman is now holding the same post with the Chargers.

Running back Austin Ekeler left the Chargers for the Washington Commanders in free agency.

Ekeler tied for the NFL lead in combined rushing and receiving touchdowns in both 2021 (20) and 2022 (18) as the Chargers' featured back. His production tailed off in 2023, when he rushed 179 times for 628 yards and five touchdowns and caught 51 passes for 436 yards and one touchdown.