Eric D. Williams ESPN Staff Writer 2 Minute Read

COSTA MESA, Calif. -- Los Angeles Chargers running back Melvin Gordon has a simple solution to fix his slow start since returning to the field after an unsuccessful, two-month holdout.

More reps.

Gordon has totaled just 49 rushing yards on 20 attempts in his first two games of the 2019 season, averaging a paltry 2.45 yards per carry. It's the worst two-game rushing stretch of Gordon's five-year career

Gordon finished with eight rushes for 18 yards in a 24-17 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers this past Sunday.

"There's no rhythm you can get into with eight carries, I don't care what running back you are," Gordon said. "I get stronger down the line.

"With the more carries you get, you run that play and you're like, 'Okay, this is how they are playing it.' So when you run that play again, I know how I'm going to treat it. But when you get eight carries, you've seen the same play for the first time every time. There's no feel to it, and you never get a feel for the game."

Gordon has started the two games he's played in, both Chargers losses. Part of the reason for Gordon's tough start is that the Chargers have fallen behind in both games, abandoning the run in order to throw the football and get back into the game. The Chargers have been outscored 38-0 in the first half of the last two games.

Head coach Anthony Lynn said that the plan is to keep Gordon involved in the offense, even though the Chargers are averaging just 33.5 rushing yards a contest with Gordon in the lineup.

"I don't think it has anything to do with Melvin Gordon," Lynn said. "We've got to open up more running lanes."

A bright spot for Gordon and the Chargers is they face the Tennessee Titans. The last time Gordon played against them, he totaled a career-high 196 rushing yards on 32 carries and a touchdown in a 43-35 win over Tennessee on Nov. 6, 2016.

Gordon also would like to get some touches in the fourth quarter. Last season, he averaged a career-high 6.7 yards per carry in the fourth quarter.

So far this season, Gordon does not have a fourth-quarter carry.

"It's about us winning at that point, and doing what we've got to do to win," Gordon said. "Obviously, we've got to do what we've got to do to stop the clock from running. When you run the ball, the clock runs. It sucks as a back because you know early you get taken out of the game. I have to make a play just in the passing game, it's just kind of how it's been."