Can Mathews Make An Impact This Season?
By Dave Thomas
When San Diego running back Ryan Mathews went down in a heap during Sunday's fourth quarter against Seattle, there was a collective sigh in the stadium of nearly 68,000 fans.
Sure, the Chargers would go on to upset the defending Super Bowl Champion Seahawks 30-21, but that huge win was tempered by the fact that Mathews was yet again on the ground and not getting up.
As has been the case for much of his career in San Diego, the Fresno State product has had some glorious moments, but also either fumbled in key situations or failed to bounce back up after a tough hit or a plant of one of his legs during a rush.
After Mathews was led away on a cart in the fourth quarter, thoughts turned to just how serious this injury might be.
Within hours, word got out that Mathews was dealing with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee. While the injury is bad enough, even more troubling for a Charger team looking to carry Sunday's win into a winning streak is that Mathews' timetable for a return to the field is up in the air at this point.
Some reports say he could be out anywhere from four to six weeks, but of course that depends on just how quickly the injury heals.
Career To Date
Drafted in 2010 as the 12th overall pick in the first round, Mathews came into the league with a whirlwind of potential.
To say he has been a bust would definitely be an overstatement, but he also has not entirely lived up to such a high draft selection entering his fifth campaign with the Bolts. Injuries and fumbles at the wrong time have left some Charger fans (and probably management at times) scratching their heads as to just how good and far this guy can truly go.
To date this season, Mathews has rushed for 71 yards on 23 carries and one score. His best season to date was 2013 (his only injury-free campaign), a season in which he rushed for 1,255 yards and six TD's. His 2011 campaign saw him run for 1,091 yards and six touchdowns.
During his time in San Diego, Mathews has also missed action due to other injuries.
In the 2012 season, Mathews did something very few players manage to do, breaking both his left and right clavicles. The first injury (right clavicle) came in a preseason game, with the left clavicle injury coming in mid-December.
With Mathews on the shelf indefinitely, the focus of the running game now shifts to Danny Woodhead and Donald Brown.
While neither Woodhead or Brown has the pure running talents and power of Mathews, both can certainly help Philip Rivers and company during the coming weeks.
The question for many Charger fans and even the organization turns to just how many dependable years can be expected of Ryan Mathews?
Certainly not a bust to this point, but also definitely not the guy many thought would successfully replace one of the greats to not only play in San Diego — but the NFL itself — one LaDainian Tomlinson (13,684 yards rushing, 145 rushing TD's).
For Ryan Mathews, the 2014 season is not kicking off the way he or many fans for that matter would entirely like.
For more Chargers news and updates, visit Chargers Central.
Dave Thomas has been covering the sports world since his first job as a sports editor for a weekly newspaper in Pennsylvania back in 1989. He has covered a Super Bowl, college bowl games, MLB, NBA and more. His work can be found on Examiner.com.