Four-Year Pro Running Back Signs with the Chargers

In what has been an injury-riddled NFL career, running back J.K. Dobbins has put pen to paper as he signed a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Chargers. Despite being one of the best running back prospects coming out of Ohio State University in 2020, Dobbins has been faced with recovering from two torn ACL injuries in two of his first four NFL seasons. Following this past season, the free agency signing options for Dobbins were limited due to teams being worried about the effect that two ACL injuries would have on Dobbins’ running abilities moving forward. Even with those concerns, the Chargers are willing to give Dobbins an opportunity to prove that his legs are back underneath him and can return to being a reliable starter in the offensive backfield. 

Prior to the NFL, Dobbins played three seasons (2017-19) at Ohio State University, where he would go on to set several school records. In his rookie season, Dobbins would become only the fourth Buckeyes’ running back to rush for over 1,000 yards in a single season and would set the Freshman rushing record at 1,403 yards. In his last season at Ohio State, Dobbins set a school record, as he became the only Buckeyes’ running back to rush for 2,000 yards in a single season. During his tenure with the Buckeyes, Dobbins would prove himself to be a dual-threat running back, as he recorded 4,459 rushing yards and 38 rushing touchdowns on 725 attempts. As well, Dobbins tallied 645 receiving yards and five touchdowns on 71 catches. 

Forgoing his senior season, Dobbins would declare for the 2020 NFL Draft, where the Baltimore Ravens would draft Dobbins in the second round. In his first season with the Ravens, Dobbins would continue his dominating rushing abilities, as he would finish the season with 805 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on 134 carries. Since then, Dobbins has suffered two torn ACL injuries in 2021 and 2023, which has thrown his NFL career off track. When healthy, Dobbins has proven to be a key contributor to an offense’s rushing attack and enters the 2024-25 season with aspirations of returning to his premiere running back abilities in Los Angeles.