The Chargers lost running back Danny Woodhead early in Sunday’s victory over the Bills and it may be some time before they get him back on the field.
San Diego announced that Woodhead, who left the game on crutches, suffered a right ankle injury that caused him to be carted off the field. It looks like it is more than your garden variety ankle injury, however.
Alex Marvez of FOX Sports reports that Woodhead suffered both a severe high ankle sprain and a fractured fibula. He’s expected to have surgery that will bring his season to an end, although Woodhead will surely get another opinion or two before deciding to undergo such a serious operation.
“You hate it for him first,” quarterback Philip Rivers said, via U-T San Diego. “Obviously, it’s going to hurt us. But you hate it for him. He’ll get through it. It’s tough, I know, early like this to get hurt like that. We’ll miss him, but guys will step up. You don’t want anybody to get hurt. We’d be disappointed if anybody got hurt. But it just adds to the fact that you know a guy who loves it that much, cares about it that much, and goes down on his first snap.”
Ryan Mathews missed Sunday’s game with a knee injury, leaving Donald Brown to pick up a career-high 36 touches during the San Diego win. Mathews is expected to be out a few more weeks, which should mean Branden Oliver and/or Marion Grice get worked into the mix for the 2-1 Chargers.
