The day has arrived when Keenan Allen rejoins teammates for the start of the Chargers’ voluntary workout program. Phase one of a nine-week regimen features two weeks of strength and conditioning. Allen will be a full participant Monday, the injury that ended a banner season mid-breath well behind him.
He lacerated his kidney Nov. 1 on that touchdown in Baltimore.
The ailment ended his season but not before eight games from which he can build.
“Just try to dominate,” Allen said, “knowing that I can dominate the league like I did last year for those eight games. Hopefully, I can come back and do that for a full 16. … I feel 100 percent. I have no aches, no pains. The kidney healed up really well. I’ve just been working. Ready.”
Allen racked up 67 catches for 725 yards and four touchdowns in eight games, so he was on pace for a 134-1550-8 season prior to lacerating his kidney. At the halfway mark, he was the #7 receiver in standard formats and #4 in PPR. He garnered 11.1 targets per game, but that number could decline a bit since Antonio Gates sat out four of those games. However, Allen saw 30 targets in three games with Gates, and in the third game (five targets), he only played 60% of the snaps due to the injured kidney. Given his usage, the fourth-year receiver a threat to finish as a WR1 in 2016.
