Chargers RB Brandon Oliver Injures Achilles Tendon Vs Vikings

The San Diego Chargers fell to the Minnesota Vikings 23-10 in their third preseason game on Sunday, but their woes didn’t end there.

Chargers RB Brandon Oliver Injures Achilles Tendon Vs Vikings

Running back Branden Oliver was carted off the field at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis late in the second quarter after tearing his Achilles tendon. NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reports, via a source informed of the situation, that Oliver, 25, will miss the season.

The Chargers lost tight tend Jeff Cumberland, also to an Achilles injury, last week against the Cardinals, the same day they lost rookie guard Donavon Clark, a practice squad candidate, to an ACL tear. In addition, offensive tackle Joe Barksdale has an ankle injury and is questionable to return.

Vikings safety Antone Exum Jr. was taken to the locker room Sunday and is receiving x-rays on his legs.

Oliver is scheduled for an MRI on Monday.

Coach Mike McCoy said the Chargers are “going to miss him.”

“His teammates love him,” McCoy said. “You love coaching this guy. … It’s a shame. As a player, you look at this as an example of, ‘You never know.’ Some guys in this business have bad luck. You look at everything he’s done, and that’s why you tell players, ‘You got to show up to work every day in this business and treat it like it’s your last because you never know.’ It’s a great example of how, as good of a human being as he is, as hard as works, it’s not fair.”

His loss creates several problems on the team’s 53-man roster.

Oliver is not only the Chargers’ third running back, but also their top kickoff returner. Wide receiver Isaiah Burse is an option for the latter role if the team carries a fifth wideout. Kenneth Farrow and Dreamius Smith are options as the third back.

The NFL is set to institute a league-wide cutdown of the number of players on each roster from 75 to 53 on Sept. 3.

Farrow, an undrafted rookie from Houston, has been impressive in practice and could be the favorite. However, he has missed the past two pre-season games, including Sunday’s.

Smith saw heavy work in the second half before exiting in the fourth quarter with an undisclosed ailment. That left fullbacks Derek Watt and Chris Swain as the only available running backs;

Oliver joined the NFL in 2014 as an undrafted free agent from Buffalo.

He led the Chargers in rushing that season, totaling 582 yards with three touchdowns. In 2015, he played eight games before a season-ending turf toe injury.

SAN DIEGO, CA – OCTOBER 25: Branden Oliver #43 of the San Diego Chargers cuts back during a carry against the Oakland Raiders at Qualcomm Stadium on October 25, 2015 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)