SAN DIEGO – Philip Rivers built up a comfortable chemistry with receiver Keenan Allen over the last four years that paid big dividends on the field.

But now that Allen is done for the year after suffering a torn ACL in his right knee last week, Rivers needs to quickly establish a trust with the rest of the receivers on the depth chart, including Travis Benjamin, Dontrelle Inman and Tyrell Williams.

Philip Rivers and the Chargers don't plan to pass any less despite the loss of Keenan Allen. Jamie Squire/Getty Images

“I think the thing I have to do from my standpoint is just let it rip, and go, ‘This is a ball I’ve thrown to 13 [Allen], now I’m throwing it to you 16 [Williams],’ or ‘I’m throwing it to you 12 [Benjamin],’” Rivers said. “Just trust it and go -- that’s the only way you’re going to deal with it and start making those plays.”

For now, Inman will step in as the starter at receiver alongside Benjamin for this Sunday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. That makes sense, considering that Inman has the most experience in San Diego’s offensive scheme, having been with the organization for three seasons.

“It’s crazy how his role has increased -- and a lot of it by his own doing and deserving it,” Rivers said about Inman. “He’s earned a spot to be one of the top three, four or five guys over the last couple years.

“And then because of some unfortunate injuries, he’s now been asked to do even more than maybe we would have anticipated going into the year. But I have a great deal of confidence in him. You saw what he did last year, the second half of the year. I mean, shoot, he was the No. 1 the last four or five games to be honest. So he’ll be fine. We’ll continue to move him around.”

Inman emerged as a reliable target, finishing with 35 catches for 486 yards and three touchdowns in 2015. He started seven games last season. Rivers said Inman is more comfortable on the outside but has the ability to play all three receiver positions, including the slot.

Inman said the important thing is to try not to do to much in filling the void left by Allen.

“They trust me to go in there and get the job done,” Inman said. “That’s what you want to build as a player and as a pro -- to be able to know everything and be accountable for it.

“You just relax. Once you have a team like this that supports you, your support system is what makes you go out there and play well. You go out there not thinking, ‘I have to do this, I have to do that,’ and just do what you’ve been doing since you played ball when you were 8. Just go out there and play, and have fun.”

Even though the Chargers lost a game they should have won on the road last week against the Kansas City Chiefs, along with the team’s best offensive playmaker in Allen, Rivers said it’s not time to panic.

“It never feels good,” Rivers said. “But when you absolutely dominate for 50 minutes and lose -- we had 10 bad minutes all the way around in all three phases and got beat -- it’s been tough.

“But we have 15 games to play. We can’t let it linger, or we’ll be dealing with another one on this Monday. So we’ve got to go. We’ve got 15 weeks, and the only thing we can’t do now is be undefeated.”