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Kimani Vidal Kimani Vidal Hardly utilized in rookie campaign
Wed, Jan 15, 2025, 3:56 PM
Vidal finished his rookie campaign with 43 carries for 155 yards and an additional five receptions for 62 yards and a touchdown across 10 games.
Analysis: The 2024 sixth-round pick was considered a possible deep sleeper entering the year given the uncertain availability of oft-injured backs J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards, but the imported Ravens duo were relatively healthy throughout the year, relegating Vidal to a healthy inactive at portions of the season. Even when the rookie had opportunities to flourish due to various injuries to the aforementioned duo, Vidal only saw six or more carries twice throughout the season and played just over 21 offensive snaps twice throughout the entire campaign. The Chargers clearly prioritize multiple rotational backs and depth given the offensive emphasis of the position, but it's unclear if Vidal will be a part of the team's larger goals despite Dobbins entering the offseason as an unrestricted free agent and Edwards due a $3 million bonus entering his age-30 season. |
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Hassan Haskins Hassan Haskins Clear depth back during season
Wed, Jan 15, 2025, 3:48 PM
Haskins finished the 2024-25 campaign with 34 carries for 89 yards and two touchdowns across 120 offensive snaps. He also caught three passes for 49 yards and an additional score during the season.
Analysis: Haskins was reliably the team's third back behind J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards, who both spent stints on injured reserve throughout the year. Rookie Kimani Vidal saw opportunities ahead of Haskins, particularly during Dobbins' four-week absence during Week 13-16, but the rotational hodgepodge of the four backs often saw Haskins ahead of Vidal by virtue of his prowess on special teams over the rookie. The former Titans fourth-round pick back in 2022 is on a team-friendly deal next season and could return as a depth piece in a backfield that could be completely reshaped with Dobbins an unrestricted free agent and Edwards due $3 million next season. |
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Jaret Patterson Jaret Patterson Staying with Bolts
Mon, Jan 13, 2025, 6:56 PM
Patterson signed a reserve/future contract with the Chargers on Monday.
Analysis: Patterson was unsuccessful in making the Chargers' 53-man roster at the end of training camp, but he signed with their practice squad Sept. 2. He was elevated for the Chargers' wild-card game against the Texans on Saturday, but ended up being inactive for the contest. The 25-year-old running back will stay with the Bolts during OTAs, minicamp and training camp in an effort to earn a spot on the 53-man roster for the 2025 campaign. |
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Quentin Johnston Quentin Johnston Lays goose egg in WC loss
Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 8:12 PM
Johnston (thigh) failed to bring in any of his five targets in Saturday's 32-12 playoff loss Houston.
Analysis: Johnston entered the wild-card round loss carrying a questionable tag, but he showed no limitations from the thigh injury while running routes. The 23-year-old's playoff debut was instead plagued by his hands after suffering multiple drops en route to a zero-catch performance. Saturday's dud comes on the heels of the Johnston's best game of his career in Week 18 against the Raiders (13-186-0). The inconsistent sophomore finished the regular season with a 55-711-8 receiving line across 15 games for the Chargers. |
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Gus Edwards Gus Edwards Quiet game on seven carries
Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 7:58 PM
Edwards rushed seven times for 22 yards and was not targeted as a receiver in Saturday's 32-12 wild-card round loss to the Texans.
Analysis: Edwards teamed up with co-starter J.K. Dobbins (ankle) to overcome ankle issues in order to start Saturday's disappointing playoff loss to Houston. Neither tailback could generate any running room when the game was close, resulting in the longtime teammates being phased out of the second-half game plan as the Chargers began desperately throwing from behind. Dobbins finished the season as the club's top producer and preferred fantasy option while Edwards logged a career-worst 3.6 YPC in 11 active contests. The former is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent this upcoming offseason while the latter still has one season remaining on the two-year contract signed in 2024. |
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J.K. Dobbins J.K. Dobbins Forgettable playoff start
Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 7:47 PM
Dobbins (ankle) took nine carries for 26 yards and failed to bring in his lone target in Saturday's 32-12 playoff loss to the Texans.
Analysis: Dobbins carried a questionable tag into Saturday's wild-card round matchup, but he did not appear limited after leading a dismal rushing attack with nine touches. Veteran backup and longtime teammate, Gus Edwards, struggled similarly (7-22-0) as the starting duo failed to set the tone against a stout Houston defensive front. The 26-year-old Dobbins is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent this upcoming offseason after producing a 195-905-9 rushing line in 13 healthy games for Los Angeles in 2024. |
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Ladd McConkey Ladd McConkey Lone fantasy star for LAC
Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 7:37 PM
McConkey reeled in nine receptions on 14 targets for 197 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's 32-12 wild-card round loss to Houston.
Analysis: McConkey made quite the splash in his postseason debut, setting a new career high in receiving yards (197) while tying his previous high-water mark in receptions (nine). The 23-year-old rookie's box score result was the only one worth mentioning for a Chargers squad that netted just 261 yards of offense against the Texans. The disparity between McConkey and all of Los Angeles' other available receiving options in the blowout loss highlights the team's need to surround its No. 1 option with talent as we look ahead to the 2025 season. |
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Justin Herbert Justin Herbert Throws four picks in ugly loss
Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 7:21 PM
Herbert completed 14 of 32 pass attempts for 242 yards, one touchdown and four interceptions with no rushing stats in Saturday's wild-card round loss to the Texans.
Analysis: Herbert picked an inopportune time to have the worst passing game of his promising career after Saturday's four-pick performance was the primary cause of the Chargers' season coming to an abrupt end. The 26-year-old is now 0-2 in two career playoff appearances, which comes on the heels of a solid regular season (3,870-23-3) in head coach Jim Harbaugh's first season with Los Angeles. Herbert and the Chargers' more-balanced offense will have to regroup for the 2025 campaign despite finishing the season well ahead of franchise expectations. |
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Jaret Patterson Jaret Patterson Inactive for wild-card contest
Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 2:27 PM
Patterson (coach's decision) is inactive for Saturday's wild-card game versus Houston.
Analysis: Patterson was elevated from the practice squad Friday, but he isn't going to suit up. J.K. Dobbins (ankle) entered Saturday deemed questionable to take the field, but he's been cleared to play, as has Gus Edwards, who dealt with an ankle injury of his own during practice this week. Hassan Haskins will join Dobbins and Edwards in the Chargers' backfield, while Kimani Vidal joins Patterson as a healthy inactive. |
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Gus Edwards Gus Edwards Active along with Dobbins
Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 2:26 PM
Both Edwards (ankle) and J.K. Dobbins (ankle) are listed as active for Saturday's wild-card contest at Houston, Eric Smith of the Chargers' official site reports.
Analysis: The running backs were limited participants on the first two practice reports of the week due to ankle issues, and while Dobbins remained that way Thursday and was listed as questionable heading into the weekend, Edwards was a full participant to cap the week and avoided a designation for the Chargers' postseason opener. With Dobbins now confirmed to be available as well Saturday, the team's top two options at the position likely will split the RB reps between them, while Hassan Haskins is on hand for any work that lingers. |
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Simi Fehoko Simi Fehoko Good to go for wild-card game
Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 2:22 PM
Fehoko (elbow) is active for Saturday's wild-card matchup against the Texans.
Analysis: Fehoko was activated from IR on Friday after missing the final 10 contests of the regular season due to an elbow issue. The fourth-year wideout will provide important receiver depth for Los Angeles on Saturday due to Joshua Palmer (foot) being unable to suit up. That said, Fehoko will likely be fifth on the wideout depth chart Saturday behind Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, DJ Chark and Derius Davis, so he may not log more than a minor offensive snap count. |
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Easton Stick Easton Stick Will be emergency QB on Saturday
Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 2:16 PM
Stick (coach's decision) is inactive and serving as the Chargers' emergency third quarterback for Saturday's wild-card matchup against Houston.
Analysis: Stick was frequently Los Angeles' emergency third QB on gamedays during the regular season, and he'll serve in that role in the opening contest of the playoffs Saturday. The veteran signal-caller can only enter against the Texans if both Justin Herbert and Taylor Heinicke are unable to play due to injury, illness or ejection. |
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Hayden Hurst Hayden Hurst Healthy inactive against Houston
Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 2:13 PM
Hurst is a healthy inactive for Saturday's wild-card game against the Texans.
Analysis: The veteran was the team's preferred pass-catching tight end earlier this season, but Hurst has been used sparingly since returning from a hip injury in Week 16, tallying just 14 total offensive snaps over the final three games of the regular season. |
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Kimani Vidal Kimani Vidal Healthy inactive Saturday
Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 2:11 PM
Vidal is inactive for Saturday's wild-card matchup against the Texans.
Analysis: With J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards both healthy for the postseason contest, Vidal will revert back to his status as a healthy inactive like he did Weeks 10-12. Hassan Haskins will operate as the team's third back given his utility as a special teams player. |
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Quentin Johnston Quentin Johnston Active for playoff opener
Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 2:05 PM
Johnston (thigh) is active for Saturday's wild-card game in Houston.
Analysis: Johnston sandwiched limited practices around a DNP on Wednesday due to a thigh issue and was given a questionable designation for the Chargers' postseason opener. Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reported Friday that Johnston was expected to play Saturday, which now has been confirmed. As a result, Johnston will team up with Ladd McConkey at wide receiver and look to build upon the 13-186-0 outburst he produced on 14 targets last Sunday at Las Vegas. |
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J.K. Dobbins J.K. Dobbins Suiting up for playoff opener
Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 2:04 PM
Dobbins (ankle) is listed as active for Saturday's wild-card game at Houston.
Analysis: Dobbins was a limited practice participant all week due to an ankle injury, which seemingly was the result of getting tackled awkwardly near the end of the first quarter last Sunday In Las Vegas, per Daniel Popper of The Athletic. The running back was able to finish out the contest en route to 21 touches for 75 yards from scrimmage on a 65 percent snap share, as position mate Gus Edwards (ankle) was sidelined. Edwards himself followed an LP/LP/FP practice regimen this week before heading into the weekend without a designation. With Dobbins confirmed to be available as well, the pair likely will have close to an even split of the backfield reps in the Chargers' playoff opener. |
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J.K. Dobbins J.K. Dobbins Likely playing Saturday
Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 10:23 AM
Dobbins (ankle), who is listed as questionable for Saturday's contest against the Texans, is expected to play, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Analysis: It would have been a real surprise if Dobbins would have been unavailable for Los Angeles' playoff game, but it appears that reality won't come to fruition. Official confirmation of the running back's status, either way, is set to arrive once inactives are posted ahead of Saturday's 4:30 p.m. ET kickoff. |
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Jaret Patterson Jaret Patterson Joins active roster
Fri, Jan 10, 2025, 3:18 PM
The Chargers elevated Patterson to their active roster Friday.
Analysis: The Buffalo product has spent most of his 2024 campaign with the Chargers' practice squad after failing to make the active roster in late August. Patterson has appeared in one game for the Chargers this season, recording no stats while playing just one special-teams snap. His elevation ensures depth at running back for Saturday's wild-card matchup against the Texans, with J.K. Dobbins (ankle) listed as questionable. |
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Simi Fehoko Simi Fehoko Comes off IR
Fri, Jan 10, 2025, 3:13 PM
The Chargers activated Fehoko (elbow) from IR on Friday.
Analysis: Fehoko is still listed as questionable for Saturday's road AFC wild-card matchup against the Texans, but his activation from IR is a necessary step in order for him to take the field. With Joshua Palmer (foot) ruled out versus Houston, and Quentin Johnston (thigh) expected to play through injury, Fehoko's availability as a depth wideout could be a notable boost for the Chargers. |
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Quentin Johnston Quentin Johnston Expected to play Saturday
Fri, Jan 10, 2025, 2:46 PM
Johnston (thigh/illness), who is listed as questionable for Saturday's wild-card round game against the Texans, is "good to go" for the contest, a source tells Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com.
Analysis: Johnston logged a limited practice Tuesday and a DNP on Wednesday before returning to a limited session Thursday. Based on Fowler's report, the wideout (who put up a career-best 13-186-0 line on 14 targets in the Chargers' Week 18 win over the Raiders) is on track to be available for Saturday's 4:30 p.m. ET kickoff, with official confirmation of his status, either way, set to arrive once Los Angeles' inactives are posted. |
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