Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen considered quitting football

Chargers WR Keenan Allen needs 45 receiving yards to set a rookie franchise record. (Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) San Diego Chargers rookie wide receiver

Chargers WR Keenan Allen needs 45 receiving yards to set a rookie franchise record. (Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)

San Diego Chargers rookie wide receiver Keenan Allen says he was so frustrated at the beginning of the season with not getting snaps that he considered quitting football.

Allen told the San Diego Union-Tribune that he was frustrated after seeing zero snaps in the team's opening game loss to the Houston Texans.

"After I didn't play after that first game, I was about another snap away of not playing from quitting," Allen said.

'I need help. I'm losing. I'm about to quit,'" Allen said. "(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."

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Allen has turned it around since then, leading the team with 957 receiving yards and eight touchdowns on 66 receptions.

He is a leading candidate for rookie of the year honors and already owns the Chargers' rookie record with five 100-yard games in a season.