The Los Angeles Chargers will begin the season without Melvin Gordon in their backfield. Gordon isn't expected to sit out the entire season though, as he plans to report to the team in six to eight weeks.

The two-time Pro-Bowl running back has been amidst a holdout since the beginning of training camp as he enters the final year of his rookie contract. The Wisconsin product Gordon is set to make $5.6 million this season.

At the moment, Gordon is focused on returning to the team sometime between Weeks 6 and 8. For Gordon to accrue an NFL season, he has to report to the team by Week 10. Therefore, don't expect Gordon to do what Le'Veon Bell did during the 2018 season.

Over the past three seasons, the Chargers running back has touched the ball 862 times. Gordon wants to get a new contract that allows him to be one of the highest-paid running backs in the NFL.

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On the other hand, the Chargers have already made it known that they won't discuss a new deal with Gordon until after the 2019 season. If the Chargers don't franchise tag Gordon, the fifth-year running back will become an unrestricted free agent in 2020.

While Gordon remains away from the team, Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson will handle the rushing duties in the offense. Last season, Gordon missed four games due to injury but the Chargers fared well without him.

The Chargers won all four games with Ekeler and Jackson thriving in the offense alongside Philip Rivers. Until Gordon makes his return, the Chargers believe they can replace his production with multiple players touching the ball.