GREEN BAY, Wis. -- San Diego Chargers head coach Mike McCoy had seen enough of Melvin Gordon.

With just more than six minutes left in the second quarter Sunday, the rookie running back fumbled for the fourth time in six games -- and the second time on the day.

Green Bay Packers safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix jarred the ball loose, and linebacker Clay Matthews pounced on the loose ball on San Diego’s 34-yard line.

After two fumbles Sunday against the Packers, Chargers rookie running back Melvin Gordon has fumbled four times in six games this season, with three of them recovered by the opposing team. Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

San Diego’s defense held firm, forcing the Packers to punt after Jeremiah Attaochu sacked Aaron Rodgers for a 9-yard loss on third down.

But the damage was done, and Gordon did not see the field again in his return to Wisconsin.

“We had to eliminate that,” McCoy said, when asked if Gordon was benched because of the fumbles.

Gordon’s rookie season has not gone as planned. He has 299 yards on 78 carries for a 3.8 per carry average. He’s failed to get in the end zone in six games and has four fumbles, three of which were recovered by the other team.

“I feel like I could have been out there helping the guys out,” Gordon said after the game. “And I wasn’t out there because I made some mistakes. That’s totally on me, and that’s what kind of hurts most.”

Gordon wants to prove his worth, which at times has worked against him. Although he won’t admit it, in his desire to make splash plays the rookie has not focused enough on what matters most: taking care of the football.

It’s a delicate balance in the NFL, where teams pay players for making game-changing plays. And Gordon is still in the process of figuring out the risk/reward factor.

Gordon could have used the Wisconsin homecoming as an excuse for pressing the issue at Lambeau Field. But he didn’t.

He took responsibility for the mistakes in a 27-20 loss to the undefeated Packers and vowed to correct them.

“You have to be focused on all areas, man,” Gordon said. “You have to go out there and play ball, but fumbling as a running back just shouldn’t happen. Even though you want to play fast and things like that, fumbling -- there’s just no excuse for it.

“It’s just something that’s not allowed, and you have to focus on the ball more than anything. That should be your main priority when you’re running the ball as a running back, and I know that. But it happens, and you just have to bounce back.”

Yes, the comparisons with former Chargers first-round selection Ryan Mathews and Gordon persist. Mathews fumbled five times during his rookie season in 2010, losing three.

But perhaps some levity is needed. Another San Diego first-round selection at running back, LaDainian Tomlinson, fumbled eight times during his rookie season in 2001, losing five of them.

Tomlinson turned out OK. Let’s see how Gordon handles the adversity.