Los Angeles Chargers Signing Former Ohio State Running Back J.K. Dobbins to One-Year Deal

By Dan Hope on April 17, 2024 at 7:57 pm
J.K. Dobbins
Tommy Gilligan – USA TODAY Sports
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J.K. Dobbins is joining Jim Harbaugh in Los Angeles.

The former Ohio State running back is signing a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Chargers, his agent told multiple reporters on Wednesday.

Dobbins goes from playing for John Harbaugh for his first four NFL seasons to playing for his younger brother Jim, who became the Chargers’ coach in January after nine years as the head coach at Michigan.

A second-round pick by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2020 NFL draft, Dobbins started his career by rushing for 805 yards and nine touchdowns as a rookie but has hampered by injuries ever since. He missed the entire 2021 season with a torn ACL, then continued to battle knee issues in 2022, though he still ran for 520 yards and two touchdowns in only eight games. He tore his Achilles in the Ravens’ season opener last year.

Dobbins has been recovering from that injury ever since, and the uncertainty surrounding whether he can stay healthy and return to form led to Dobbins going unsigned for the first five weeks of free agency. Now, though, Dobbins has a chance to get his career back on track in Los Angeles, where he reunites with former Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman and joins a backfield that will also include fellow former Ravens running back Gus Edwards.

Dobbins joins former Ohio State defensive end Joey Bosa as Buckeyes on the Chargers’ current roster.

Ohio State’s 2024 NFL Free Agents
Pos Player 2024 Team Contract 2023 Team
RB J.K. DOBBINS CHARGERS 1 YEAR RAVENS
RB EZEKIEL ELLIOTT     PATRIOTS
WR NOAH BROWN TEXANS 1 YEAR, $3 MILLION GUARANTEED TEXANS
WR PARRIS CAMPBELL EAGLES 1 YEAR, $1.3 MILLION GIANTS
WR CURTIS SAMUEL BILLS 3 YEARS, $24 MILLION, $15 MILLION GUARANTEED COMMANDERS
WR MICHAEL THOMAS     SAINTS
TE NICK VANNETT     CHARGERS
G JONAH JACKSON RAMS 3 YEARS, $51 MILLION, $34M GUARANTEED LIONS
DE TYQUAN LEWIS COLTS 2 YEARS, $12 MILLION, $7.7M GUARANTEED COLTS
DE CHASE YOUNG SAINTS 1 YEAR, $13 MILLION GUARANTEED 49ERS
DT JOHNATHAN HANKINS SEAHAWKS 1 YEAR, $2.05 MILLION COWBOYS
DT JALYN HOLMES JETS 1 YEAR, $1.125 MILLION JETS
LB JEROME BAKER SEAHAWKS 1 YEAR, $7 MILLION DOLPHINS
LB MALIK HARRISON RAVENS 1 YEAR, $2.7 MILLION RAVENS
CB ELI APPLE     DOLPHINS
CB JEFF OKUDAH TEXANS 1 YEAR, $4.75 MILLION, $2.5M GUARANTEED FALCONS
S VONN BELL BENGALS 1 YEAR, $1.21 MILLION ($6M PAID BY PANTHERS) PANTHERS
S JORDAN FULLER PANTHERS 1 YEAR, $5.25 MILLION RAMS
P CAMERON JOHNSTON STEELERS 3 YEARS, $9 MILLION TEXANS
LS JAKE MCQUAIDE     LIONS
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