Los Angeles Chargers OC Reveals Week 1 Strategy To Fill Huge Austin Ekeler Void With JK Dobbins And Gus Edwards

The Los Angeles Chargers have a massive void to fill with Austin Ekeler now playing in Washington. And the team’s offensive coordinator admitted this week that his approach to replacing the star running back will change from week to week.

Although Austin Ekeler never earned Pro Bowl honors in his seven seasons in Los Angeles, the 29-year-old was a huge part of their high-powered offense. He was a rock-solid runner out of the backfield, But what made him special was being an elite dual threat that allowed the team to expand their options in the passing game.

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However, after a downseason where injuries limited the undrafted star to just 14 games, the Chargers, and new head coach Jim Harbaugh chose to go in a different direction at running back in 2024. And Ekeler is now wearing a Commanders uniform.

This season the team is going with a pair of Baltimore Ravens veterans — Gus Edwards and JK Dobbins — to fill that huge void. Edwards has proven to be a rock-solid backup in the league that wasn’t trusted with the starting job. Dobbins has shown flashes of star potential, but serious injuries have limited him to just nine games last two years.

Chargers will ride ‘the hot hand’ at RB in Week 1 and beyond

So then who will offensive coordinator Greg Roman go with to be the anchor of the run game in 2024? Well, it seems that will matter on who is playing better in a given week.

“They’re both going to play. Whoever has got the hot hand, as I always tell them, has got the hot hand. So, we’re going to go with the hot hand. They know that, and they get that. It’s really nothing scientific,” Roman matter-of-factly said during a presser with media this week.

It really is the most sensible option since neither has the resume that makes them deserving of being handed the starting job. All the Chargers can do is hope that one rises to the occasion and demands being the feature back through their performance this season.

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