Kimani Vidal made the Los Angeles Chargers’ regular-season roster at the end of August as a sixth-round draft choice from Troy. But the running back had been designated as a game-day inactive for each of the Chargers’ first four games of the 2024 campaign.

With running back Gus Edwards unable to practice over the past week because of an ankle injury, Los Angeles had Vidal in uniform for the first time on Sunday to back up J.C. Dobbins against the Denver Broncos.

And Vidal delivered the first time he touched the football.

Vidal scored a 38-yard touchdown on a pass from quarterback Justin Herbert as Los Angeles took a 10-0 lead with 4:59 left in the first quarter.

Vidal ran for 1,661 yards and 14 touchdowns on 297 carries in his senior season at Troy. He won the Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Year Award as he led NCAA FBS in rushing attempts and rushing yards in 2023.

Vidal completed his Troy career with 4,010 yards and 33 touchdowns on 781 carries and 92 receptions for 700 yards and one touchdown.

Vidal’s only touchdown reception at Troy came on a 14-yard connection with quarterback Gunnar Watson in a 28-7 victory over Georgia State on Sept. 30, 2023.

FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.