EL SEGUNDO — Running back J.K. Dobbins declined Thursday to talk about his injured knee.
Coach Jim Harbaugh would only say that Dobbins “looked good” in practice.
Officially, the Chargers have listed Dobbins as questionable to play in Saturday’s game against the New England Patriots. Dobbins was injured in the first half of the Chargers’ loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Nov. 25 and was placed on injured reserve, sidelined for four weeks.
Dobbins remained on injured reserve this week, but the Chargers opened him up to return to the active roster on Monday. He was activated on Friday, will be in the lineup for Saturday’s game, and could help the Chargers defeat the Patriots and clinch an AFC Wild Card spot with their 10th win.
Alternatively, the Chargers could play it safe and wait for Dobbins, the team’s leading rusher with 766 yards and eight touchdowns on 156 carries this season. The Chargers’ final regular season game will be against the Raiders in Las Vegas on January 4th or 5th. Oddsmakers favor the Chargers (9-6) over the Patriots (3-12).
Given the importance of Saturday’s game between the Chargers and Patriots, and the fact that running back Gus Edwards was ruled out of the game with an ankle injury suffered during a Dec. 9 win over the Denver Broncos. And the following would seem essential. Get the best running backs on the field in Week 17.
If neither Dobbins nor Edwards can play, Harbaugh will likely rely on rookie Kimani Vidal and second-year running back Hassan Haskins to carry the ball in the Chargers’ most important games of the season. If the weather forecast comes true, games on the field could become even more important.
As of Thursday afternoon, Saturday’s weather forecast called for a high of 42 degrees in Foxboro, Massachusetts, home of Gillette Stadium outside Boston, with a 75 percent chance of rain.
Last season, the visiting Chargers hydroplaned to a 6-0 victory over the Patriots, but Cameron Dicker’s only two field goals scored in that game. Quarterback Justin Herbert completed just 22 of 37 passes for 212 yards, and the Chargers rushed for just 29 yards.
Controlling the ball with an effective running game will be crucial in the Chargers’ first cold-weather game of the season. Things could become even more critical if the rain comes as scheduled, making the passing game even more dangerous with slick football and a soggy field.
The Chargers experienced severe weather earlier this week, with cold fog blowing in from the ocean during Tuesday’s practice. However, it wasn’t enough to be called rain. The temperature was barely below 60 degrees, which didn’t feel like a New England winter afternoon.
“Most of us have played in games like that or grown up in climates like that,” Harbaugh said. “The bottom line is that they are young and healthy, and their hearts are pumping warm blood, which is pumped from arteries to veins, tributaries, and capillaries throughout the body.”
Harbaugh paused.
“Maybe I got it in the wrong order,” he said with a laugh. “It’s no secret that I’m not a doctor, but I know it’s warm blood. Any young, healthy, athletic man can produce it.”
Reporting an injury
Edwards, linebacker Denzel Perryman (groin) and right guard Trey Pipkins III (hip) were ruled out of Saturday’s game.
Dobbins, tight ends Will Dissly (shoulder) and Hayden Hurst (illness), and defensive back Elijah Molden (knee) were listed as questionable for the game against the Patriots.
