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Chargers rookie running back Ryan Mathews sprained his right ankle at the end of a 3-yard run in the first quarter of Sunday's 38-13 win over Jacksonville and didn't return.

NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora reports, via a league source, that Mathews’ injury appears minor. He was held out for the rest of the game because the Chargers didn’t want to take any chances with their first-rounder in a game that had already been decided.


Mathews had to be helped off the field. After being examined on the bench, Mathews was taken to the locker room on a cart. He jogged back to the bench midway through the second quarter.

"I feel like I could have played, but they didn't want to risk it, so they sat me out," Mathews said.

Mathews was being tackled when Jaguars linebacker Kirk Morrison landed on his legs.

"Whether he could've or couldn't have returned, I wasn't comfortable having him return," coach Norv Turner said. "Depending on the severity of it, I don't want an injury that might be a one-week injury turn into a six-week injury."

In two games, Mathews has 101 yards on 24 carries, two fumbles and no touchdowns. The two fumbles have led to 10 points for San Diego's opponents, including a Jacksonville field goal Sunday.

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