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The San Diego Chargers have either made a smart decision regarding Melvin Gordon or Gordon’s body made it for them. It does not really matter how they got there, though, because what matters is that they will not be risking their star running back’s health in a completely meaningless week 17 game (per Michael Gehlken):
Make it official: Chargers RB Melvin Gordon (knee, hip) won't play Sunday vs. Chiefs. His season ends with 997 rushing yards.
— Michael Gehlken (@sdutGehlken) December 30, 2016
There had been a lot of talk this week that Gordon would be a game time decision on Sunday, that he really wanted to play, and the everyone and their mother was very concerned about him getting from 997 rushing yards to a slightly higher, rounder number.
Gordon, of course, has now missed extended time in both seasons of his professional career and also underwent microfracture surgery last offseason. So, it made less sense for him more than most to rush back from injury to chase an arbitrary milestone at the possible expense of his health. Thankfully for the Chargers and Gordon, that’s no longer on the table.