The MRI on Danny Woodhead’s injured knee has confirmed the worst fears of the San Diego Chargers.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Woodhead—who left Sunday’s contest after a nasty looking injury—has a torn ACL and will miss the rest of the 2016 season.
#Chargers RB Danny Woodhead has torn his ACL, source said. His MRI just came back. He’s out for the season. Bad blow.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 19, 2016
Woodhead, 31, suffered the injury at the end of a first half catch against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He tried to cut back inside, but Jaguars linebacker Telvin Smith hit him hard as he planted his right leg:
Man. #Chargers Danny Woodhead down with a knee on this play. Just got carted off. pic.twitter.com/G5Uke6mOcp
— Charles Robinson (@CharlesRobinson) September 18, 2016
Woodhead immediately grasped his right knee. He was carted off and didn’t return.
Already down top receiver Keenan Allen, the Chargers will now be without their top pass-catching running back.
Woodhead, 31, caught 81 passes over 16 games for the Chargers last season. He also hauled in a touchdown from Philip Rivers and led the team in rushing during San Diego’s Week 1 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Chargers should now have former first-round pick Melvin Gordon locked in as the offense’s every down running back. However, losing a receiving threat like Woodhead, especially with Allen already out for the season, represents a huge blow for an offense reliant on the short, quick passing game.
Woodhead will likely go on injured reserve ahead of Week 3, when the Chargers travel to Indianapolis to take on the Colts.
