When the San Diego Chargers host the Denver Broncos this Sunday in a key divisional matchup, they may be without their starting running back Ryan Mathews.
Mathews suffered an ankle injury against the New England Patriots last week that forced him to exit the game.
Fast-forward to this week, and Mathews has yet to practice once, and is listed as questionable (50 percent chance of playing) for this Sunday’s game.
UT-San Diego sports reporter Michael Gehlken notes that there has only been one time in Mathews career that has played in a week that he didn’t practice:
Only time in career Ryan Mathews played on week w/o practicing was vs. DEN in Jan. playoffs. High-ankle sprain. Five carries before exit.
— Michael Gehlken (@UTgehlken) December 12, 2014
This would be bad news for the Chargers (8-5) who have lost three of their last four against the Broncos, and hold the sixth out of sixth seed in the American Football Conference (AFC) playoff race.
It’s especially bad news considering the last time the Chargers beat the Broncos in December, 2013, Mathews played an integral role in leading the Bolts to victory rushing for 127 yards and a touchdown.
If Mathews is unable to play expect running backs Brandon Oliver and Donald Brown to share the starting duties, much like they did while Mathews was nursing a knee injury earlier in the season.