Chargers must be concerned about Forrest Lamp

After missing all of last season with a torn ACL, Forrest Lamp had to have a knee clean-up surgery, something that should concern the Chargers.

Knee problems are a big deal in football. The lateral movement and force required to play the sport puts a lot of stress on the knee. It is even worse on linemen, who every down have to push as hard as they can through their entire body. So, a second knee surgery for Forrest Lamp is concerning to say the least. Beyond his ability to stay healthy, he was going to become an integral part to the Chargers offense.

The Chargers need to keep Philip Rivers upright. If Lamp, a second-year guard out of Western Kentucky, is hurt again, Rivers has to be fretting. The Chargers can’t throw 35 slants to Keenan Allen every game. They are going to need Rivers to be able to get momentum, step up and challenge defenses deep. In that vein, Tyrell Williams and Mike Williams are both quality targets.

More importantly is how Lamp impacts the run game. Head coach Anthony Lynn is a former running back and believes that the Chargers will have success if they continue to run the ball. Luckily for them, they have just the running back to do so. Melvin Gordon’s emergence is turning the Chargers into a run-oriented offense despite still having Rivers. Lamp’s ability to block the run will be key in Gordon seeing his third straight season with an increase in rushing yards.

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While Lamp will be expected to play in the preseason the Chargers should exercise caution with him. They really don’t want him to be getting injured again. So, they should maintain the concern that they have and ease him back into work with the team, where once fully healthy, he will make an immediate impact.