Chargers report that starting running back will be out for Week 17 vs. Patriots

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The Los Angeles Chargers are cruising toward a spot in the playoffs, but injuries have placed some speedbumps in the road this season. There may be another one of those this week.

As the team heads to Foxborough for a battle with the New England Patriots, the running game could be an issue for the team.

On Thursday, Gus Edwards was ruled out for the game due to an ankle injury that was aggravated in the team's win over the Denver Broncos. The Chargers did open the window for J.K. Dobbins to return from injured reserve but he is still listed as questionable for the game, though he was a full participant in practice on Thursday.

The running game has suffered considerably without Dobbins but Edwards stepped up and scored two touchdowns against the Broncos. The hope will be that Dobbins can return against the Patriots but if he can't, the Chargers could be pretty one-dimensional on offense.

Chargers running game in shambles heading to New England

If Dobbins can't go on Saturday, the team would have to turn to the combination of Kimani Vidal and Hassan Haskins at running back. Jaret Patterson would also likely be elevated from the practice squad.

The Patriots have been a bad team this season but despite their 3-12 record, they are still fighting and nearly pulled the upset over the Buffalo Bills last week. This is not an opponent for the Chargers to take lightly.

It will be interesting to see what kind of offensive gameplan Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman put together if the team is without both Edwards and Dobbins this week.