Keenan Allen injury update: Carted off field vs. Chiefs

San Diego Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen suffered a knee injury in Week 1 versus the Kansas City Chiefs. Here’s the latest update on his injury.

The San Diego Chargers were looking great in their Week 1 road opener against AFC West rival Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Though the Chargers were surprisingly up 21-3 on the Chiefs, it wasn’t all good news for San Diego.

The team’s best wide receiver, Keenan Allen, came down with what looked to be a bad knee injury in the second quarter versus the Chiefs. Allen slipped near the 50-yard line on a pass play, and was unable to get up on own accord.

It’s almost certain that Allen is not going to return in the second half for the Chargers, and while the extent of the injury won’t be known for some time, it certainly doesn’t look good for the 24-year-old former Cal standout.

Best case scenario is that Allen suffered a moderate knee sprain. More likely, Allen sustained a torn knee ligament and will be out for the rest of the 2016 NFL season. It really comes down to what the impending MRI reveals.

Allen was immediately taken back to the Chargers locker room to be evaluated.

Allen was the 2013 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in his first season out of California, with his great play helping the Chargers earn an AFC Wild Card berth. Since that year, Allen has dealt with frequent injuries and the Chargers haven’t sniffed the AFC Playoffs as a result.

Next: 2016 NFL season: Epic season preview

San Diego will have its back against the wall in 2016 if Allen does have to miss the entire season with his latest NFL injury. Can the Chargers keep the Chiefs at bay in Week 1 without him?