The 2023 season is just a month away, and with weeks of dead time during the quietest part of the NFL offseason, Chargers Wire is endeavoring to document each of Los Angeles’ players before the start of the team’s training camp.
Running back Joshua Kelley competed for the No. 2 spot with Sony Michel early in the 2022 season and missed four games with a sprained MCL, but he solidified himself as the bonafide backup by the end of the year.
Kelley finished the season with 69 carries for 287 yards (4.2 yards per carry) and two touchdowns and caught 14 of his 25 targets for 101 yards.
In his introductory press conference, Kellen Moore mentioned how Kelley “came along” in 2022 and said he would like to have two or three running backs he can count on while referencing the Zeke/Pollard one-two punch with the Cowboys.
Kelley has shown glimpses of excellence, and now it’s just a matter of staying healthy, something he has struggled to do in his first three seasons. If he can, he and Austin Ekeler should be a nice backfield duo.
Contract (2023): $1,010,000 base salary, $195,086 prorated bonus, $1,205,086 cap hit.
Acquired: Kelley was selected by the Chargers with the 112th overall pick in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL draft.
Quote: Running backs coach Derrick Foster on Kelley:
“JK has developed in the last three years. I can see different changes in him from Year 1 when I got here to now. Even in our group meetings now, a question is asked and JK is on it. He has the answer whereas in the past, he may have been a little bit hesitant to give that answer. I think the game is slowing down for him and he’s recognizing where he needs to improve at as well. He’s a guy who takes a lot of pride in his work off the field, too, in terms of his work ethic. I think that can’t go unnoticed like when he made the transition in his third year in his weight and he got stronger and things of that nature. He takes pride in that and knowing what to do. And then growing in his role on special teams and helping his team out as best as possible. To answer your question, I definitely do think that he’s taking the steps in the right direction to get over that, to take it to another level. I think we’ll get an opportunity to really witness that as he continues to grow in his role.”
Highlight:
Joshua Kelley hurdled a guy! @SmoothplayJK | @Chargers
📱: Stream #LACvsNO on NFL+ https://t.co/25g2Jop12q pic.twitter.com/rX4zVMdkOv
— NFL (@NFL) August 27, 2022
