NFL News: Chargers' Ryan Mathews Out 4-5 Weeks with MCL Injury

The San Diego Chargers managed a monumental 30-21 upset on Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks, a team that many picked to win the Super Bowl for a second year in a row. However, that victory against Seattle came at a great cost as Chargers running back Ryan Mathews was carted off the field to the locker room in the fourth quarter. It was later revealed that Mathews tore the MCL in his right knee.

Mathews is expected to be sidelined for 4-5 weeks after this injury.

The 27 year old has a history of being injured in the middle of the season. Last season was the first time that he made it through an entire 16-game season without injury during his five-year career.

Mathews was injured when he fumbled and recovered a hand-off from San Diego quarter back Philip Rivers. The running back did not have his best day on the field as he fumbled the football twice and only ran for 31 yards on 11 carries.

Given the worst case scenario and Mathews is out for five weeks, San Diego is in a fairly good position to still win games over that time period. Three of their upcoming games are against teams that have started out their seasons at 0-2 (the Oakland Raiders, the Kansas City Chiefs and Jacksonville). Two of those games are also against divisional rivals, which could be critical if San Diego wants to challenge the Broncos for leadership in the AFL West. The Chargers are currently one game behind Denver after opening their season at 1-1. 

San Diego will turn to its other weapons in the absence of Mathews. As seen against Seattle, good things still happen when Rivers and tight-end Antonio Gates hook up, so expect him to get more catches in the future. In terms of their running game, as long as Mathews is on the sidelines, it will be easy enough for that hole to be filled by other Chargers running backs Donald Brown and Danny Woodhead.

Because of Mathews' constant injury prone career, do not be surprised if the Chargers will most likely be ending their relationship with him at the end of this season. Brown and Woodhead have already received new deals. This final injury is likely the last leg of Mathews' time in San Diego as they prepare to move forward in building up the team.