The Chargers will be without running back JK Dobbins this Sunday against the Falcons. Dobbins was sidelined with a knee injury suffered in the Week 12 loss to the Ravens.

Los Angeles will lean on Gus Edwards and rookie Kimani Vidal without its top defenseman. Greg Roman hinted that the sixth-round pick in this year’s draft will play a bigger role this weekend.

“He’s been in there before,” Roman said of Vidal. “Maybe the workload will be a little heavier, we’ll see. We have complete confidence in him and his situation. The halfway point of the season is already over, so there are no more rookies. Everyone feels great with him.”

Vidal has been active for four games this season. In his regular season debut against the Broncos in Week 6, when Edwards was sidelined, he scored a 38-yard touchdown. On the ground, Vidal only managed 44 yards on 18 carries (2.4 YPC).

The former Troy product was an example of a back with skills that translated to the pro level, and the numbers backed it up. In his final college season, Vidal rushed for 1,661 yards and 14 touchdowns on 295 carries, including 94 forced missed tackles and 19 runs for 15 yards.

The Chargers are hoping he and Edwards can step in and produce a positive performance against a Falcons defense that ranks 19th against the run.