The Los Angeles Chargers' offense will be at full strength for a key game against the Baltimore Ravens this weekend. According to a report from ESPN.com's Adam Schefter, both wide receiver Keenan Allen and running back Melvin Gordon are expected to be on the field in Week 16.
Chargers’ WR Keenan Allen, who left last Thursday’s game vs. Chiefs with a hip pointer, is now expected to play Saturday night vs. Ravens, per source. Allen has look improved and ready at practice this week.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 20, 2018
RB Melvin Gordon, who has been out with an MCL, also expected to play.
Allen was injured early in last week's come-from-behind win over the division rival Kansas City Chiefs, forcing the Chargers to rely on Mike Williams, Tyrell Williams, Travis Benjamin, and Antonio Gates for the remainder of the game. Mike Williams had a monster night with three touchdowns, while Benjamin made arguably the biggest catch of the night on a throw from Philip Rivers that still doesn't seem like it was real. (1:56 in the video below.)
Philip Rivers' best throws from the @Chargers' comeback over the Chiefs! #LACvsKC#FightForEachOther pic.twitter.com/9ErVQ5si3R
— NFL (@NFL) December 14, 2018
Gordon, meanwhile, has been out since Week 12, when he sustained an MCL injury after being hit on an end-around play. Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson filled in for him during the first couple games he missed, but Ekeler also missed last week's game, which meant Detrez Newsome got some work alongside Jackson.
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The Chargers currently tied with the Chiefs for the best record in the AFC West (and AFC overall, and along with the Rams, the second-best record in the NFL behind the Saints), but behind them for the No. 1 overall seed in the AFC based on the tiebreaker of record in division games. Allen and Gordon are Rivers' top two passing game targets, so getting them back for a huge game against a strong defense is a major plus for this team.