Chargers WR Allen nearly quit earlier this season

So frustrated was rookie wide receiver Keenan Allen to be sitting out at the beginning of the 2013 season that the San Diego Chargers' leading receiver said he was a snap away from leaving the NFL for a career in the music industry.

Allen, a third-round pick from California, was recovering from a season-ending knee injury and was playing behind Eddie Royal, Danario Alexander and Malcom Floyd.

But as injuries added up and Allen regained strength and confidence, he climbed the depth chart to become an indispensable part of the San Diego offense.

He leads San Diego with 967 receiving yards and ranks third with 66 receptions.

"After I didn't play after that first game, I was about another snap away of not playing from quitting," Allen told the San Diego Union-Tribune. "(I wasn't) living up to my expectations of starting. I've never been a role player-type guy. Not easy at all. ... I've never had to do it before. I never had to adjust."

Allen, a five-star recruit who initially signed at Alabama as a safety before transferring to Cal to play with his brother, said his mother was able to convince him that returning to school to pursue a career in the music industry wasn't in his best interest.