As if the 33-27 overtime loss wasn't hard enough to swallow, the Chargers were also dealt a blow to their number one receiver.
With 1:08 remaining in the second quarter, Keenan Allen fell to the turf in evident pain. The wide receiver was carted off the field with a right knee injury and was immediately ruled out. Afterward, Head Coach Mike McCoy said the team's initial speculation was an ACL injury, but they should have further clarification after additional tests are done back in San Diego.
Allen took to his Instagram page to send a message to the fans following the game.
"Look that fear/obstacle/trial/situation in the eye and tell it... You won't stop me! You can't stop me! I was built for this! Sometimes we need things like this not because we are too high of ourselves but simply because God has a set plan. Head high! Smiles up! Back to the lab. #13strong #S13YER #boltup"
Replacing Allen won't be easy. KA13 was off to a strong start, catching six of the seven passes thrown his way in the first half for 63 yards.
"They couldn't cover him, and they knew they couldn't cover him," Philip Rivers said. "I don't think there are too many guys like him that are just sitting, waiting for a phone call for a Tuesday workout, so we'll have to do it by committee. Obviously Travis (Benjamin), we will see what he has production-wise (and) start trying to find more ways to get it to him. Tyrell (Williams) will have to pick up the slack, and Isaiah (Burse) and (whoever) else we (add) to the group."
Williams knows he will have added responsibility, and the second-year receiver had a pair of third down catches for 71 yards against the Chiefs. Still, rather than talk about his increased role, he focused on his fallen teammate.
"I just talked to him for a second when he was on the field and obviously it is terrible to see Keenan go down like that," he said. "Especially when you see Keenan work so hard to be where he is at and be so successful, it sucks to see a guy like that go down…. It definitely affects you when one of your brothers goes down like that, but we know that we have to go out there and pick him up. Keep doing it from there. We couldn't bring our confidence down, we know we've got to pick him up and go."
Melvin Gordon is one of Allen's closest teammates, and echoed Williams' sentiment.
"Keenan means everything to the team and everything to us. Obviously, I'm close to Keenan. He's hurt, and it's a sad moment that you hate to be a part of. He has all the ability in the world, and he'll come back stronger than ever. I truly believe that. He'll continue to work and build from there. You've got to play for him every time we go out there."
