San Diego's drifting season just floated into a dark corner.
NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported Tuesday that wideout Keenan Allen underwent a procedure on Monday to repair a lacerated kidney, per a pair of sources. The team announced Tuesday that Allen was placed on injured reserve, along with running back Branden Oliver.
Allen suffered the injury during Sunday's loss to the Ravens, stripping the Chargers of their leading receiver. The third-year wideout has hauled in 67 passes, second best in the NFL and tied for the third-most catches in NFL history over eight weeks behind Julio Jones (this season) and Marvin Harrison.
Allen's 725 yards and four touchdowns have anchored a Philip Rivers-led air attack that currently leads the league in passing yards. Allen and Rivers have shown a unique chemistry. In his absence, Steve Johnson, Malcom Floyd and Dontrelle Inman are bound for plenty of work. Tight ends Antonio Gates (MCL) and Ladarius Green (ankle) are both nursing injuries, but will be leaned on hard down the stretch.
The Chargers (2-6) are buried deep in the AFC and would need to piece together a massive win streak to get back into the conference's playoff picture. Losing their premier receiver makes that task next to impossible.
