The Los Angeles Chargers have an identity in mind under new offensive coordinator Greg Roman. It apparently sounds a lot like his previous offense with the Baltimore Ravens.
JK Dobbins became the second former Ravens running back, and the fourth member of the Ravens offense overall, to sign with the Chargers in free agency this offseason. the player announced on Wednesday. ESPN’s Adam Schefter then reported that it will be a one-year deal.
Dobbins is returning from a torn Achilles tendon he suffered in Week 1 last season.
The Chargers signed Dobbins’ former backfield mate Gus Edwards last month. They also brought in Bradley Bozeman and tight end Hayden Hurst, all of whom spent multiple seasons in Baltimore.
Roman was one of the first hires of Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh, who previously worked with Roman at the San Francisco 49ers and Stanford. Roman hasn’t been subtle about his desire to turn the Chargers, one of the most pass-heavy teams in the NFL last season, into a run-oriented offense like he had done with the Ravens (and Lamar Jackson).
One of the biggest changes will be the shift from former running back Austin Ekeler, one of the best receiving backs in the NFL, to an RB room led by Edwards and now Dobbins.
Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz said last month that Edwards would be the bell cow in the new Chargers offense, but the addition of Dobbins likely complicates that. When healthy, Dobbins looked electric as a runner. Edwards had a career 4.9 yards per attempt and a 57.4% conversion rate with the Ravens, while Dobbins shot 5.8 and 56.8% in the same offense.
Of course, “when healthy” has never been easy for Dobbins. The Ravens wanted him to be the starter alongside Jackson, but lost him for the entire 2021 season to a torn ACL, another knee injury for half of the 2022 season and a torn Achilles tendon for all but one game in 2023.
The Chargers are now betting that Dobbins can contribute something in an offense similar to Baltimore.
