Keenan Allen Injury: Tanking or Not, Resting the Receiver Makes Sense

As the NFL season stretches into December, very few players are going to be feeling 100 percent healthy. And while many will tough it out and take to the gridiron with all varieties of bumps and bruises, some simply can't go.

For Week 15's Thursday Night Football game, Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen falls into the latter category.

Upon first glance, that seems like awful news, whether you're a Bolts fan or a neutral observer. The Chargers are already compromised on offense, and removing an elite pass-catcher will only make things worse.

Sometimes, though, discretion is the better part of valor. And whether Los Angeles is tanking or not, keeping the veteran sidelined is a smart move.

Allen Will Miss TNF With Heel Injury

Through the first 14 weeks of the 2023 campaign, Allen was a constant in the Chargers lineup. When the club travels to Las Vegas, however, he won't be suiting up.

On Wednesday, the club ruled the veteran receiver out with a heel injury. He hadn't practiced all week.

And while a single absence might seem manageable, Allen's place on the injury report only compounded the Chargers' offensive woes. Quarterback Justin Herbert has undergone season-ending finger surgery, forcing Easton Stick under center. And, elsewhere in the unit, receiver Mike Williams hasn't played since tearing his ACL in September.

That leaves running back Austin Ekeler as the main weapon, with Joshua Palmer (who hasn't played since the end of October), Quentin Johnston and Gerald Everett handling pass-catching duties. And when you consider that the Raiders have a sturdy defense (averaging 19.9 points allowed per game) and a dangerous pass rush, it could be a long night for everyone in a Chargers uniform.

Short-Term Suffering Is Probably Worth It

With the caveat that anything can happen in an NFL game, the Chargers seem to be behind the eight-ball on Thursday night. Their defense has struggled this season and, given the injury situation, it appears that the offense won't be able to pick up the slack. That's reflected in the odds, with most bookmakers setting L.A. as a three-point underdog to a team that lost 3-0 at home last week.

And while losing any game, especially one to a rival, can be painful, the Chargers' short-term suffering is probably worthwhile.

First and foremost, Allen is an incredibly reliable player and a key part of the club's offense. Even if he's getting older and nearing the end of his contract (there's a potential out after this season, and free agency is looming in 2025), the receiver will play a role in any short-term success the Chargers have.

Is a trip to the Super Bowl in the cards next year? Probably not, but if the Bolts want to push for a wild-card berth, more than 150 targets can't evaporate into thin air. To that end, it's better to keep Allen protected to ensure that he'll be at his best in 2024. A receiver with nagging mobility issues is, after all, rather useless.

But that's not the only potential upside to resting Allen. Even if the Chargers aren't actively trying to tank, losing a game will only help their draft position.

After Thursday's game, L.A. (5-8 and two games out of a playoff spot) will face the Bills, Broncos and Chiefs down the stretch. While anything can happen by Week 18—maybe K.C. will be locked into position and Andy Reid will rest his starters—it's easy to imagine all three of those opponents needing to win.

If the Bolts go something like 0-4 or 1-3 down the stretch, that will bode well for draft position. The club is currently sitting in the 10th spot, but there's room to move. The Raiders, for example, would move back with a TNF win. The Giants are playing well with Tommy DeVito under center, so victories in their two non-Eagles games isn't out of the question. The same can be said for the Chicago Bears, who have been on a (comparative) hot streak and could beat the Cardinals and Falcons before the season's out.

And while there's no way to know how the final standings will shake out, we've all seen how much a single draft pick can change the course of a franchise. So, whether the Chargers get lucky and can snag a star receiver or simply move up a few spots, that's probably more valuable than a single regular-season win while not in the thick of a playoff race.

Who knows? Maybe when the dust clears, Allen's injury (plus the absences of Herbert and Williams) will turn out to be a blessing in disguise.