The San Diego Chargers impressed in Week 2 with their beating of the Seattle Seahawks. Philip Rivers and Antonio Gates made the most dynamic duo on Sunday as the team look more balanced than ever getting the win voer the Super Bowl champs. However, that balanced attack came at a price as starting running back Ryan Mathews went down with an injury that could hurt his status with the team in the future.
Mathews started his career with injuries, but turned a corner last season by staying healthy and proving that he is the dynamic rusher everyone thought he would be coming out of college. He put up 1,255 yards and six touchdowns last season while also recording 189 yards receiving. The Chargers had high hopes that Mathews was finally the running back they thought they were getting, making him the starter again in 2014. However, his luck ran out after suffering a knee injury against the Seahawks.
The running back is now expected to miss the next five weeks after spraining his MCL in the fourth quarter. He was carted off the field after attempting to recover his own fumble. The injury comes at a bad time for Mathews. The running back is entering the final year of his contract and was hoping to have back-to-back1,000-yard seasons to his name in order to get a new deal in either San Diego or somewhere else. However, this injury is just another added to a long list that puts the running back's durability into question.
From the Chargers standpoint, their depth chart is strong enough to withstand the absence of Mathews. The new running back tandem will consist of Danny Woodhead and Donald Brown. Neither running back run with the same power as Mathews, but they have proven very capable of handling the increased workload moving forward. The schedule also works in San Diego's favor. The face Buffalo before hosing Jacksonville which should make the running back's transition much easier.
Both running backs are key waiver wire options for Week 3 if available. Both Brown and Woodhead have the ability to run and catch passes out of the backfield, something San Diego will take advantage of.
