JOSHUA KELLEY NEWS

Homecoming: Joshua Kelley Chargers RB Joshua Kelley returns to his alma mater, UCLA, to reminisce with host Hayley Elwood on this episode of Homecoming presented by A...

NOVEMBER 18, 2021 • CHARGERS.COM

One touch in loss Kelley carried the ball one time for six yards in Sunday's 27-20 loss against the Vikings.

Impact Kelley's usage was minimal Sunday as he was only on the field for 14 percent of all offensive snaps. The second-year running back saw four less carries than Larry Rountree, a running back who has received less touches than Kelley in weeks past. In addition, Rountree received goal-line work over the 23-year-old, in which he capitalized by scoring a touchdown.

NOVEMBER 16, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Sees more playing time Kelley carried the ball three times for six yards and caught his only target for four yards in the 27-24 win over the Eagles on Sunday.

Impact Kelley became the No. 2 running back as Justin Jackson was out with a quad injury. Kelley and rookie sixth-round pick Larry Rountree have oscillated as the primary short-yardage ball carriers throughout the season without much rhyme or reason. With Jackson's status still up in the air, Kelley could be looking at more snaps in the upcoming weeks.

NOVEMBER 9, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Back in the mix Kelley is listed as active for Sunday's game against the Eagles.

Impact Kelley is back in the mix Sunday, with Justin Jackson out with a quad injury. In the process, he's in line to work in a complementary role along with Larry Rountree behind the Chargers' top back, Austin Ekeler.

NOVEMBER 7, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Inactive Sunday Kelley is inactive for Sunday's game against the Patriots.

Impact With Kelley inactive Sunday, Justin Jackson and Larry Rountree are on hand to work in complementary roles behind top back Austin Ekeler.

OCTOBER 31, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Chip Kelly on Game Day Routine, Oregon Prep, Joshua Kelley UCLA head coach Chip Kelly talked with the media on Wednesday about how the team gets ready on game day, the Oregon defense, and Joshua Kell...

OCTOBER 20, 2021 • 247SPORTS.COM

Gets four carries in loss Kelley carried the ball four times for seven yards in Sunday's 34-6 loss to the Ravens.

Impact Kelley continued to serve as the backup behind Austin Ekeler for the second straight week. The Chargers struggled to move the ball on offense Sunday, resulting in a rough fantasy day for most of the team's skill position players. Ekeler and Kelley each gained seven yards on the ground, totaling six and four carries, respectively. For the Chargers, this game was one to forget. Fantasy managers can assume that Kelley is the backup to roster in the event that Ekeler is sidelined with an injury going forward. The 23-year-old Kelley is on bye this week, and the Chargers will host the Patriots in Week 8.

OCTOBER 20, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Assumes backup role in debut Kelley carried the ball two times for 17 yards in Sunday's 47-42 win over the Browns.

Impact Kelley was activated for the first time this season and promptly usurped rookie Larry Rountree as the backup behind Austin Ekeler, earning 26 offensive snaps while Rountree and Justin Jackson saw zero. It's a bit odd to see Kelley in the backup role after struggling through the preseason and the conclusion of the 2020 campaign, but it's also not a role that has a lot of value with Austin Ekeler thriving as a three-down workhorse.

OCTOBER 12, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Active against Cleveland Kelley is active for Sunday's game against Cleveland, Gilbert Manzano of The Orange County Register reports.

Impact Kelley will be active for the first time this season, but he's not expected to have a large role in a backfield that's crowded and led by Austin Ekeler and Larry Rountree.

OCTOBER 10, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Josh Jacobs active for Raiders' LA showcase with Chargers

Running back Josh Jacobs is back in the Las Vegas Raiders’ lineup for their visit to SoFi Stadium to face the Los Angeles Chargers

OCTOBER 4, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Inactive for Week 2 Kelley is inactive for Sunday's game against the Cowboys.

Impact With Kelley inactive for the second straight game, Austin Ekeler, Larry Rountree and Justin Jackson are in line to handle the Chargers' Week 2 backfield duties.

SEPTEMBER 19, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Odd man out in Week 1 Kelley (coach's decision) is a healthy scratch for Week 1 against Washington, Gilbert Manzano of The Orange County Register reports.

Impact Kelley was in line to potentially garner active status for the opener, but he'll be in street clothes with Austin Ekeler (hamstring) available. Kelley made 14 appearances for Los Angeles last season but will have to wait to make his 2021 debut, and his next chance to do so will come in Week 2 at home against the Cowboys.

SEPTEMBER 12, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Unremarkable finish to preseason Kelley rushed three times for two yards and brought in his only target for 12 yards in the Chargers' 27-0 preseason loss to the Seahawks on Saturday night.

Impact Still looking to shake Larry Rountree for the No. 3 running back job, Kelley didn't get much of an opportunity to make an impression Saturday. The second-year back saw Rountree take six carries for 27 yards, record two receptions and gain 33 yards on a pair of kickoff returns, so the pendulum could well have swung away from Kelley ahead of final cutdowns.

AUGUST 29, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Falling on depth chart Kelley is listed behind both Justin Jackson and Larry Rountree on the team's first official depth chart release, Gilbert Manzano of The Orange County Register reports.

Impact It's a pretty jarring statement considering the Chargers drafted Kelley in the fourth round just one year ago, but it reflects what occurred towards the end of 2020 when the rookie was a healthy scratch in two of the final four games. Rountree often has been mentioned as a legitimate short-yardage threat, giving the 2021 sixth-round pick a more defined role than Kelley and adding yet another strike against the latter's quest towards retaining a roster spot. At this point, Kelley might need an excellent preseason in order to claim a spot on the active roster, much less the coveted backup role behind stalwart Austin Ekeler.

AUGUST 10, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Chargers RB Kelley stays positive after struggling as rookie

Los Angeles Chargers running back Joshua Kelley never lost his smile and positive outlook even during a difficult rookie season

AUGUST 6, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

A Conversation With: Joshua Kelley The running back talks expectations for his second season, the challenges he overcame in year one, what he learned from Justin Herbert, and...

JULY 13, 2021 • CHARGERS.COM

Roster spot not guaranteed Kelley could be competing for the final running back spot with 2020 sixth-round pick Larry Rountree, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.

Impact The presumed hierarchy according to Popper would see Austin Ekeler handle most of the work out of the backfield with Justin Jackson filling in occasionally as a change-of-pace option. That would leave Kelley and Rountree in an ultra-utility capacity, but the recent sixth-round pick profiles a bit better as a goal-line threat, something the Chargers seemingly lack at the moment. Kelley was a major factor at the start of his rookie season but dramatically tailed off toward the end of the year, finishing as a healthy scratch in two of the final four games. Considering Rountree also has experience playing special teams throughout college, it's entirely possible Kelley may be on the outside looking in when it comes to the running back depth chart.

MAY 21, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Uneven rookie season Kelley, who was a healthy scratch in two of the Chargers' final four games, finished his rookie season with 502 total yards and two touchdowns in 11 games.

Impact Kelley's fall from fantasy grace came precipitously as the 23-year-old saw 47 touches in his first three games as a complement to Austin Ekeler before yielding time to Justin Jackson and then Kalen Ballage as the season progressed. By the time Ekeler (quad) returned from his multi-month absence, Kelley had completely fallen out of the rotation in favor of Ballage despite the two having nearly indistinguishably modest yards-per-carry averages. Looking ahead, the UCLA product could have a chance to increase his role in his second NFL season with a new coaching regime in store. That the Chargers have more invested in Kelley (a 2020 fourth-rounder) compared to Jackson and Ballage should at least guarantee him a spot on the active roster next season. However, until further context with regard to the team's 2021 offensive scheme and personnel emerges, it's hard to gauge whether Kelley will be a depth piece like he was toward the end of his rookie season or a crucial factor in the rotation, as he was early on.

JANUARY 7, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Deemed healthy Week 16 scratch Kelley (coach's decision) is inactive heading into Sunday's game against the Broncos, Gilbert Manzano of The Orange County Register reports.

Impact Los Angeles will roll with Kalen Ballage and Justin Jackson as secondary backs behind Austin Ekeler during a Week 16 AFC West clash. Kelley's 3.2 yards-per-carry average is uninspiring, while his two lost fumbles on the season motivate the Chargers' coaching staff to search elsewhere for more reliable options.

DECEMBER 27, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Dwayne Haskins starts for Washington despite breaking rules

Dwayne Haskins gets his second consecutive start for Washington with quarterback Alex Smith out again because of a right calf injury

DECEMBER 27, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Five offensive snaps in win Kelley carried the ball two times for eight yards in Thursday's 30-27 win over the Raiders.

Impact Kelley did next to nothing in this contest largely as a byproduct of just five offensive snaps. The return of Austin Ekeler and emergence of Kalen Ballage has made the rookie running back simply an afterthought, and it's hard to imagine that changing with just two games left to play, especially considering Kelley was a healthy inactive just one game prior.

DECEMBER 18, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Back in lineup Kelley is active for Thursday's game against the Raiders, Daniel Popper of The Athletic reports.

Impact Kelley was a healthy scratch for last week's win over the Falcons, but he'll return to the lineup for Week 15, taking the place of Justin Jackson. When Jackson suited up last week, he saw just two carries for eight yards, so it's unclear what sort of role Kelley will have in the offense. He'll join Austin Ekeler and Kalen Ballage as healthy running backs for the divisional clash.

DECEMBER 18, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Inactive Week 14 Kelly (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Falcons.

Impact Kelley avoided an injury designation for Sunday's contest after dealing with a foot issue, but he'll still be sitting out as a healthy scratch. Austin Ekeler will lead the backfield while Kalen Ballage and Justin Jackson serve as the backup options.

DECEMBER 13, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Colts have left tackle Castonzo, LB Okereke vs. Raiders

Indianapolis left tackle Anthony Castonzo and starting linebacker Bobby Okereke are both active for the Colts’ visit to the Las Vegas Raiders

DECEMBER 13, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Ready for Week 14 Kelley (foot) has been cleared to play in Sunday's game versus the Falcons.

Impact Kelley started the week as a non-participant, upgraded to limited status Thursday, and practiced at full speed to close out the week. The rookie has been cleared to play in Week 14. His role is yet to be determined, as Kelley, Austin Ekeler and Kalen Ballage haven't all stayed healthy for an entire game this season. Kelley, Ballage and Justin Jackson (IR - knee) are all candidates to handle the No. 2 backfield role for the remainder of the year.

DECEMBER 11, 2020 • ROTOWIRE