The Los Angeles Chargers today activated running back J.K. Dobbins from Reserve/Injured; Designated for Return. The team also elevated safety Eddie Jackson and safety Kendall Williamson from the practice squad for Saturday's game.
A top candidate for Comeback Player of the Year in his first season with the Bolts, Dobbins leads the team with 900 yards from scrimmage, including 766 rushing yards. He has started a career-best nine-of-11 games played, recording career bests in the passing game by hauling in 28 passes for 124 yards. Despite missing the last four games, Dobbins' eight touchdown runs are tied for the fifth-most in the AFC in 2024, while his 4.85-yard rushing average ranks No. 7 in the NFL among players with at least 150 rushes.
Since entering the league as a second-round selection (55th overall) by the Ravens in the 2020 NFL Draft, Dobbins has averaged 5.4 rushing yards per carry – the highest mark by any running back in the NFL over the last five years (min. 300 rushing attempts). Dobbins has appeared in 35 regular-season games (19 starts), totaling 2,113 yards and 20 touchdowns on 392 carries, along with 55 receptions for 311 yards (5.7 avg.) and a receiving score. In three postseason appearances (two starts), Dobbins accumulated 235 scrimmage yards on 40 touches (5.9 avg.) with two scrimmage touchdowns.
Dobbins, a three-time All-Big Ten Conference selection at Ohio State (2017-19), helped the Buckeyes claim three-straight Big Ten Championships during his tenure in Columbus. The La Grange, Texas, native earned first-team All-America honors following his final year at Ohio State when he rushed for a single-season program-record 2,003 yards and was named recipient of the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award, which annually recognizes the top offensive player in college football. Dobbins culminated his Buckeyes career with 4,459 rushing yards and 38 rushing touchdowns on 725 attempts (6.2 avg.), while hauling in 71 catches for 645 yards (9.1 avg.) and five receiving scores over three seasons of action.
Jackson, a two-time Pro Bowler, started 100 regular-season games with Chicago after being a fourth-round choice (112th overall) by the Bears in the 2017 NFL Draft. He started four-of-nine games played with Baltimore this season before signing to the Los Angeles practice squad. Over his eight-year career, Jackson has totaled 486 tackles (371 solo), a pair of sacks, 10 forced fumbles, six recoveries, 45 passes defensed and 15 interceptions, including three he returned for touchdowns. He was an Associated Press first-team All-Pro selection in 2018 after setting a career high with six interceptions and leading the NFL with a pair of pick-sixes. That season, he was named NFC Defensive Player of the Month for November and NFC Defensive Player of the Week in Week 12. Jackson has made a postseason start for the Bears in 2020, registering six solo tackles.
Over four seasons at the University of Alabama (2013-16), Jackson was part of a Crimson Tide team that went 51-6, ultimately winning the College Football Playoff to cap a 2015 season that saw Alabama finish 14-1. That season, Jackson picked off six of his nine career interceptions, returning two of them for touchdowns. He finished his Alabama career with 130 tackles (97 solo), a sack, 12 pass breakups and three forced fumbles.
Originally a seventh-round selection (258th overall) by the Chicago Bears in the 2023 NFL Draft, Williamson spent time with the Bears and Buffalo Bills before joining the Los Angeles practice squad in October. He made his NFL debut in the Week 16 victory over Denver, recording a solo tackle on defense. Williamson played four seasons (2018-22) at Stanford, earning Academic All-Pacific-12 honors each season and appearing in 43 career games. He totaled 179 tackles (121 solo) for the Cardinal, adding a sack, an interception, 13 pass breakups and a pair of forced fumbles.
