As the Los Angeles Chargers prepare for their Wild Card matchup against the Houston Texans, running backs J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards are battling ankle injuries. The Chargers, favored by 2.5 points, are likely to adopt a run-heavy strategy against a Texans defense that has shown vulnerabilities against the run. Dobbins has been limited in practice, while Edwards recently upgraded his status, potentially leading to a committee approach with backup Hassan Haskins playing a key role.

In the receiving corps, the Chargers face additional challenges with injuries affecting key players. Quentin Johnston is recovering from a quad injury, and Joshua Palmer has been ruled out. However, the Texans' secondary is also missing key players, giving Los Angeles a chance to exploit these matchups.