A man and woman who wore gloves like surgeons carefully lifted a game-worn, blue-and-yellow No. 30 jersey last week and placed it on a stand inside the Pro Football Hall of Fame. They also delicately sat the blue-and-white cleats that Todd Gurley wore Nov. 1 against the 49ers on a transparent box, inside which a sheet of paper explained why.

The Rams running back became the first rookie in NFL history to rush for at least 125 yards in four straight games. Despite a 9-yard debut, his 575 yards in his first five games were the third-most ever behind only Eric Dickerson and Adrian Peterson.

Gurley was the first of two running backs drafted in the first round last April.

Chargers rookie Melvin Gordon was the second.


“I’m happy for him,” Gordon said. “I know him and all. We’re cool, so I’m definitely happy for him.”

That doesn’t make it any easier.

Gordon had high hopes for his rookie season. Halfway through, he has 382 rushing yards and no touchdowns for a 2-6 team. Any football analyst worth his or her marbles can look beyond the production and see the potential in Gordon. He routinely fights through contact behind an injury-grated line and exhibits a knack at the second and third level.

It’s natural for him to be frustrated.


Something would be wrong if he wasn’t.

In eight games, Gordon has spun his wheels on the side of a road. Meanwhile, Gurley drives past on cruise control, having found a fast lane to Canton. Believe Gordon when he says he’s happy for Gurley. He means it and does not want the slightest hint otherwise.

But as a competitor, it’s difficult to see such distance build between someone with whom he entered this league.

“When he balls out, people look at me like, ‘He sucks,’” Gordon said.


The Chargers know better.

King Dunlap, their starting Week 1 left tackle, missed three games this season because of a concussion. He’ll miss a fourth game Monday against the Bears due to a high ankle sprain sustained Nov. 1 versus the Ravens.

Orlando Franklin, their starting Week 1 left guard, missed three games this season also to a high ankle sprain. He’s expected to miss a fifth game Monday after suffering a grade-two MCL sprain two weeks ago. Franklin missed one game in four seasons with the Broncos. He’s been carted off in consecutive games here.

Chris Watt, their starting Week 1 center, injured his groin in the second game. He started the third only to aggravate the ailment. Since then, he’s returned to the field twice, each time as a reserve guard. The first time, he aggravated the groin injury and suffered a concussion. The second time, last week, he injured his shoulder on his second snap.


To what degree the Chargers’ run blockers would be effective when healthy was a question entering the season. They’ve barely had a chance.

Same goes for Gordon.

This offense rarely holds the personnel advantage to match up toe-to-toe in a power offense, challenging a defense to load up the box. It spreads out defenses instead, its more productive running coming out of the shotgun and, often with Gordon, specifically the pistol formation.

The Chargers entered Week 9 with 108 carries out of the shotgun, second most in the NFL behind the Eagles (149). They average 4.1 yards per shotgun carry; Gordon averages 4.3 on 51 carries. Under center, the averages drop to 3.3 as a team and, for Gordon, 3.1 on 52 carries.


“It’s a conscious effort every week,” offensive coordinator Frank Reich said. “We’ve got a guy that we think is a special player. We need to keep feeding him the football. We’re not, overnight, going to turn into a two-back power run team. We’re not built that way right now. Could things develop that way over games and years? I’m sure they could. Obviously, Philip (Rivers) has had a lot of success in that type of offense when LT (LaDainian Tomlinson) was in his prime. ... For us to try to major in that kind of a game would give us less of a chance to win. ...

“I would like to see Melvin be more and more in the spotlight. It’s a gradual development into it. It’s obviously very early in his career. I think everything is going to work out the way he expects it to work out.”

Gordon’s time will come. He and the Chargers believe that.

So far, it’s been Gurley’s.