JOSHUA KELLEY NEWS

Joshua Kelley Hurdles Over Preseason and Adversity Running back Joshua Kelley talks with Hayley Elwood about tonight's performance, overcoming adversity during the preseason, and soaking up e...

AUGUST 27, 2022 • CHARGERS.COM

Joshua Kelley continues to stand out: Takeaways from Chargers' loss to Saints The Chargers will end the 2022 NFL preseason winless after their backups faced some of the New Orleans Saints' starters in a 27-10. Here's w...

AUGUST 27, 2022 • SANDIEGOUNIONTRIBUNE.COM

Winston sharp, Saints top Chargers 27-10 in preseason finale

New Orleans Saints quarterback Jameis Winston looked ready for the regular season in his first game since his major left knee injury last Halloween

AUGUST 27, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Logs seven carries Saturday Kelley rushed seven times for 18 yards and failed to bring in his only target in the Chargers' 32-18 preseason loss to the Cowboys on Saturday night.

Impact Kelley was the first running back into the game and logged the first offensive touch for Los Angeles, and he paced the Chargers' ground game in carries overall. Recent reports had Kelley leading the competition for the No. 2 running back job, and with Isaiah Spiller (ankle) having suffered an injury Saturday, competition may be an even more clear-cut proposition going into the exhibition finale.

AUGUST 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Leading No. 2 back competition Kelley has seen more first-team work than fellow running backs Isaiah Spiller and Larry Rountree at training camp, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.

Impact Kelley, Spiller and Rountree are competing for the No. 2 job behind starter Austin Ekeler, who is coming off a career year in which he played between 60 and 66 percent of the team's offensive snaps on each of first, second and third down in the 16 games in which he suited up. Kelley, Rountree and Justin Jackson all had shots to spell Ekeler last year, rotating through the No. 2 role without much success. The highlight for the group came Week 16, when Jackson went for 162 total yards and two touchdowns in a fill-in start, but he's now with the Lions. Kelley has averaged only 3.2 yards per carry and 6.6 yards per reception on 144 career totes and 28 catches, but he started the preseason strong with six touches for 44 yards in a loss to the Rams last Saturday. Between that and his work in camp, Kelley seems to have an early lead for the No. 2 spot, though Spiller remains the upside fantasy play of the bunch.

AUGUST 17, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Joshua Kelley working up depth chart: Where Chargers' 53-man roster stands Joshua Kelley appears to be winning the race to be Austin Ekeler's primary backup. Here's how the Chargers' roster looks like after the team...

AUGUST 15, 2022 • SANDIEGOUNIONTRIBUNE.COM

Compiles 44 total yards in opener Kelley rushed three times for 16 yards and secured all three targets for 28 yards in the Chargers' 29-22 preseason loss to the Rams on Saturday night.

Impact Kelley opened the game as the starter with Austin Ekeler inactive and logged the first two rushing touches for the Chargers. The 2020 fourth-round pick's production was impressive on a per-touch basis, and he'll continue his battle with rookie Isaiah Spiller and veteran Larry Rountree for the No. 2 running back job in next Saturday night's preseason home matchup against the Cowboys.

AUGUST 14, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Chargers Weekly: Easton Stick, Joshua Kelley on Preparing for Preseason Opener Matt "Money" Smith and Chris Hayre are joined by running back Joshua Kelley (4:10) and quarterback Easton Stick (20:05) ahead of the team's...

AUGUST 12, 2022 • CHARGERS.COM

Bulked-up Joshua Kelley in the running for Chargers' heavily contested backup role The Chargers have have drafted running backs three years in a row in hopes of finding a dependable backup to Austin Ekeler, and Joshua Kelle...

AUGUST 11, 2022 • SANDIEGOUNIONTRIBUNE.COM

Three Takeaways: Joshua Kelley & Larry Rountree III Provide Update on Backup Running Back Competition “For me, as a competitor, I love it. I like to challenge myself. I like to try to prove myself … I’m just trying to embrace it. I’m not worr...

AUGUST 11, 2022 • CHARGERS.COM

Top Quotes | Brandon Staley, Joshua Kelley & Larry Rountree III on Excitement for Preseason Opener See what members of the Chargers had to say after the final practice before the preseason opener.

AUGUST 11, 2022 • CHARGERS.COM

Joshua Kelley on Making Gains in the Offseason Running Back Joshua Kelley speaks to the media on developing in pass protection, running backs Coach Derrick Foster, and competition at the...

AUGUST 11, 2022 • CHARGERS.COM

Chargers Training Camp: Injury Updates Ahead of First Preseason Game, Joshua Kelley's Offseason Regimen and Other Notes From Day 13 Updates and notes from the 13th day of Chargers training camp.

AUGUST 11, 2022 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Chargers hoping Spiller can provide depth at running back

The Los Angeles Chargers are set with Austin Ekeler as their lead running back

MAY 13, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

In the trenches: Chargers may focus on lines in early rounds

The Los Angeles Chargers found their franchise left tackle in the first round of last year’s NFL draft

APRIL 22, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Mediocre second season Kelley tallied 33 carries for 102 yards and five catches for 38 yards across the 2021 campaign.

Impact The 2020 fourth-round pick took a dramatic step backward after a disappointing rookie campaign, often waffling between the No. 3 and No. 4 back throughout 2021. At this point, Kelley may not be a lock to be retained in 2022, coming off consecutive seasons in which he averaged less than 3.5 yards per carry. The fact that the Chargers still lack quality depth behind three-down stalwart Austin Ekeler might give the UCLA product enough wiggle room to stick around in a depth role next season.

JANUARY 26, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Does little with six touches Kelley had five carries for seven yards and caught his lone target for 14 yards during Sunday's 41-29 loss to Houston.

Impact Kelley played 27 percent of the offensive snaps and did little with his opportunities in the absence of Austin Ekeler (COVID-19 protocols), while Justin Jackson totaled 162 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns. Ekeler is back and should reclaim the every-down role for the final two weeks of the season, but it's clear Kelley is entrenched as the No. 3 tailback with Jackson serving as the top backup option.

DECEMBER 29, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Chargers, Staley will remain aggressive despite close loss

Brandon Staley has preached two things since being hired as Los Angeles Chargers head coach in January — consistency in his message and playing aggressively

DECEMBER 17, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Critical fumble in loss Kelley carried the ball seven times for 21 yards to go along with one fumble in Thursday's 34-28 overtime loss to the Chiefs.

Impact Kelley's fumble could have long-term ramifications considering the goal-line gaffe was simply an egregious mistake in a pivotal situation. While the second-year back has seen 17 carries over the past two weeks with the Chargers carefully managing Austin Ekeler's ankle injury, Kelley has struggled with the usage averaging close to three yards per carry. It's entirely possible Larry Rountree, who was a healthy inactive Thursday, could push for additional playing time in light of Kelley's latest miscue.

DECEMBER 17, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Ten carries off the bench Kelley ran for 33 yards on 10 carries against the Giants on Sunday.

Impact Kelley and fellow running back Justin Jackson (nine carries for 35 yards) saw elevated workloads due to starter Austin Ekeler suffering an ankle injury in the third quarter. It's not clear what Ekeler's status might be for Week 15, but if he misses time then -- based on Sunday's game -- Kelley and Jackson would get the first cracks at the vacated workload. Kelley and Larry Rountree (inactive, coach's decision Sunday) are probably the Chargers' best candidates to run between the tackles among their backup runners, with the lightly-built Jackson profiling best for the passing-down work.

DECEMBER 13, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Does nothing in win Kelley didn't record any counting stats across his two offensive snaps in Sunday's 41-22 win over the Bengals.

Impact The third-string running back only saw two snaps with eight previously being his lowest. Austin Ekeler consistently dominates the backfield while Justin Jackson typically acts as the main backup, although the snap share has oscillated week to week based on his health. Jackson is slowly returning from a quadricep injury and has missed several games throughout the season, but he essentially renders Kelley useless whenever he's healthy.

DECEMBER 7, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Two catches in loss Kelley carried the ball once for five yards while also catching two of three targets for 15 yards in Sunday's 28-13 loss to the Broncos.

Impact Kelley's longest pass reception went for 17 yards in which he hurdled over a Denver defender to almost get the first down. The 2020 fourth-round pick was on the field for 23 percent of all offensive snaps. Fellow backup running back Justin Jackson did not play an offensive snap, and Larry Rountree was inactive because of a coach's decision, two major positive signs for Kelley. Darius Bradwell did make his 2021 season debut and played sparingly, but at least for the moment Kelley seems to sit second on a complicated running back depth chart.

NOVEMBER 30, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Joshua Kelley's Hurdle Nearly Goes for First Down Los Angeles Chargers running back Joshua Kelley's incredibly ambitious hurdle nearly goes for a first down.

NOVEMBER 28, 2021 • CHARGERS.COM

Steelers' Roethlisberger, Chargers' Bosa are active for game

Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Joey Bosa are active for Sunday night’s game after being taken off the reserve/COVID-19 list

NOVEMBER 22, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Healthy scratch Sunday Kelley (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Steelers.

Impact Kelley recorded four carries for 12 yards while hauling in his lone target for four yards across the last two games, but he won't suit up in Week 11. Justin Jackson should serve as the primary backup to Austin Ekeler now that he's healthy.

NOVEMBER 22, 2021 • ROTOWIRE