The Chargers said after practice Friday that running back Melvin Gordon will not play Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs in the season finale.
The team listed Gordon out on its injury report for the Week 17 contest.
Coach Mike McCoy said the decision owed to Gordon "not being 100 percent and where we thought we needed him to be to be Melvin."
The coach said Gordon was "crushed" Friday morning when McCoy and general manager Tom Telesco informed him of the move.
Gordon had stated an emotional case Thursday why it was important for him to play Sunday, though he also acknowledged that his ailments would prevent him from being at 100 percent health.
In effect protecting Gordon from his own competitive impulse, coach Mike McCoy is shutting down the second-year player who was carted from the Dec. 11 game at Carolina with leg and hip injuries.
Gordon, who returned to practice Wednesday as a limited participant while wearing a full knee brace, will finish the season with 997 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns as part of a robust bounce-back season from a disappointing rookie year.
The running back, who was absent from the practice session open to the media Friday, sustained no physical setbacks this week in his two limited outings but hasn't gone full in practice since going down against Carolina while trying to recover a strip-sack fumble.
With rookie running back Kenneth Farrow having gone on to injured reserve this week, the Chargers are down to these four running backs: scatback and San Diego State alum Ronnie Hillman, who was cut by Denver and Minnesota this season and rushed nine times for six yards last Saturday in the 20-17 loss at Cleveland; rookie fullback Derek Watt, who has prepared at tailback as well this season, had a 16-yard reception at Cleveland and has rushed twice for 4 yards this year; Giants castoff Andre Williams, a power rusher who hasn't played this season; and Gus Johnson, who rejoined the Chargers this week.
Look for Williams, who appeared with the Giants in the preseason, to make his Chargers debut. "I'm just going to go out and play the game and have a lot of fun doing it," he said, confirming that he has "super-fresh" legs.
Johnson, a 5-10, 215-pound alum of Stephen F. Austin St., spent time on the Atlanta Falcons practice squad earlier this year as well.
Farrow performed well on the first drive at Cleveland, rushing five times for 24 yards.
In the game, he re-injured the same shoulder that ailed him for part of the preseason. Though he returned to the game, he appeared hindered by the injury.
Following the first drive at Cleveland, the Chargers rushed 14 times for 10 yards.
Gordon was among the anguished observers on the visiting sideline.
"I'm sitting there watching the Cleveland game, and I was just disgusted with just not being able to go out there and help. And I hate being on the sideline feeling helpless," Gordon said Thursday. "There's nothing worse than that feeling. So, if I can go out there, and I can just help try to contribute, I've got to at least try. I've got to try at least."
Taking the football out of his hands, so to speak, McCoy and athletic trainer James Collinson ensured that if Gordon is to appear in another game, it won't be until August.
Also listed out for the finale was cornerback Craig Mager.
Left tackle King Dunlap's status was listed doubtful.
Questionable were left guard Orlando Franklin, who returned to practice Friday, center Matt Slauson, linebacker Denzel Perryman and wide receiver Jeremy Butler.
