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The Chargers have played without running back Ryan Mathews for the last four weeks as he recovers from a sprained MCL and his return to the lineup isn’t imminent.

Mathews has yet to progress to running as part of his rehab from the knee injury, which means he’ll be missing a fifth straight game this week and could extend his absence even longer. Mathews hopes that isn’t the case, but acknowledges that the timing of the green light for that step in the recovery process is out of his hands.

“I’m hoping,” Mathews said, via U-T San Diego. “I’m just taking it one day at a time. When they think it’s time for me to start running, then it’s time to start running. It’s all in their hands.”

The Chargers play the Broncos next Thursday night, which may be too quick a turnaround for Mathews to avoid a sixth game on the sideline. They then play Miami in Week Nine before going on their bye, so it’s probably not unrealistic to think that Mathews will be out until the team returns from their week off.

It’s easier to suggest that because Mathews’ absence hasn’t slowed the Chargers down. They’ve won all four games without Mathews and discovered that Branden Oliver is a productive running back in their offense, something that should have some impact on how Mathews is used whenever he does return to the lineup.