Chargers ‘absolutely’ expect Melvin Gordon to return this season

If the Los Angeles Chargers wish to keep their playoff hopes alive, they’ll need their star running back Melvin Gordon back at full health. Gordon has been an incredible contributor to the Charger’s success this season, and in comparison to backup Austin Ekeler, Gordon is undoubtedly the more talented back.

According to head coach Anthony Lynn, “It’s highly doubtful that he’ll play this week but never count that guy out,” Lynn said Monday, via Ryan Kartje of the Orange County Register.

The chances of Gordon playing Sunday evening against the Pittsburgh Steelers seemed to be increasingly unlikely as soon as the injury occurred. Gordon was taken out of Sunday’s matchup against the Arizona Cardinals immediately after the injury on a designed trick play.

“I’ve had MCL’s, and I know you can recover quickly from those,” Lynn said. “Melvin is a fast healer. I was relieved. When you saw it on the field, it looked pretty nasty because it was a leg whip. I thought he came out on the good end of this one.”

The fact that Gordon walked off the field and to the locker room is a seemingly good sign, and the injury could have been much worse for the former first-round pick. Gordon has grown increasingly more dangerous for opposing defenses since his underwhelming rookie campaign. The Chargers can hold Gordon responsible for much of their success this season as well as quarterback Phillip Rivers who has been playing great football to this point in the season.

It’s clear the Chargers will not have Gordon for the upcoming matchup in Pittsburgh, but after this upcoming contest, Gordon will be considered week to week most likely.