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JACKSONVILLE -- The game against the Chargers on Sunday seemed like a chance for Jacksonville Jaguars rookie running back T.J. Yeldon to have a breakout game. The Chargers came in on a six-game losing streak, and their defense ranked 26th against the run and was prone to giving up big plays.
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A productive Jaguars running game might take some of the pressure off Blake Bortles, who had thrown an interception in six straight games coming in.
As it turned out, Yeldon was a non-factor in the game. He carried just nine times for 36 yards. Denard Robinson had three carries for 23 yards.
Yeldon did have a 21-yard run, but his other eight runs gained 15 yards.
Yeldon has just two 100-yard games this season and has run for 621 yards.
By contrast, Bortles threw 49 times and threw an interception for the seventh game in a row. He also passed twice when he was beyond the line of scrimmage inside the 5-yard line.
Yeldon didn't get a single carry in the red zone, and it remains unclear what identity the Jaguars are trying to project on offense.
The Chargers appeared to stack the box to force the Jaguars to pass.
"We had some pass-run options and Blake chose to check out of them based on the look they had,'' coach Gus Bradley said.
"To look into more opportunities for him (Yeldon), I'm not going to argue with that,'' Bradley said.
"The way the game was going we were behind so I guess we were just throwing the ball,'' Yeldon told the Times-Union. "We had a run play (on one play) but he (Bortles) threw it as an option.''
"I was surprised (the Jaguars didn't score more touchdowns) because we just have to execute better in the red zone,'' Yeldon said. "That's something we've been struggling with all year. We have to come out of those (red zone situations) with touchdowns instead of field goals.''
Bortles said of the lack of a running game, "It's kind of how it panned out.
"You go in with a game plan and you stick with what's working and what's going on. We want to be a team that runs the ball and runs the ball successfully and well. We don't ever want to abort the run, but you've got to get the ball downfield and move the chains. If the run is not working, sometimes, you've got to do other things.''
--Wide receiver Allen Hurns has played in every game and caught a pass in every game since he signed with the Jaguars as an undrafted free agent a year ago.
That streak may be ending after he suffered a concussion Sunday late in the game against the Chargers when his head hit the turf.
The injury was serious enough that he was taken to the hospital and released after tests were negative. But he remains in the concussion protocol, and he is likely to be held out of the Tennessee game. The Jaguars will update his condition Wednesday.
Hurns has caught 48 passes for 758 yards and seven touchdowns, although he hasn't had a touchdown catch the last two games after catching touchdown passes seven games in a row.
NOTES: Safety Josh Evans suffered a concussion against San Diego and is in the concussion protocol and his condition will be updated Wednesday. ...Wide receiver Bryan Walters has soreness in his lower back and his condition will be updated Wednesday. ... Defensive tackle Michael Bennett was inactive for the San Diego game with a hamstring injury and his condition will be updated during the week. ...Wide receiver Neal Sterling was inactive for the San Diego game with the flu and will likely return this week.
