It is not a good year for the San Diego Chargers because along with their playoff hopes drifting away, they also lost wide receiver Keenan Allen for the season because of a kidney injury.
According to reports, Allen suffered a lacerated kidney in Sunday's 29–26 defeat to the Baltimore Ravens.
Allen, who is the Chargers' leading receiver, went through a non-surgical procedure for the injury, ESPN and NFL.com reported.
ESPN added that the 23-year-old wide receiver will need six weeks to recover and despite the schedule allowing him by that time to return to action, the Chargers decided to place him in season-ending injured reserve because they no longer have a shot at making it to the playoffs.
San Diego may have been performing poorly overall this season, but Allen was one of the few bright spots in a struggling campaign.
The former California Golden Bear has 67 receptions, for 725 yards and four touchdowns playing in all of the Chargers' eight regular season games.
Allen's 67 receptions in eight games is tied for the second-best in the National Football League (NFL).
The former third-round pick (2013) has been impressive since arriving to the league and was even named Sporting News NFL Rookie of the Year during that season.
In his rookie year, he played in 15 games and had 71 receptions for 1,046 yards and a career best eight touchdowns.
Allen played in 14 games last season (missed the last two due to injuries), having 77 receptions for 783 yards and four touchdowns.
The thriving receiver is playing his best year in the NFL and could have achieved more if he did not suffer the injury.
Now, San Diego will continue the season without Allen and will try to break the four-game losing slide it is currently in.
The Chargers will take on the Chicago Bears next for their Week 9 matchup before having their bye week in Week 10.
