Tackle Jared Gaither may be recovering slowly from a back injury, but two other injured Chargers are making better progress.
Running back Ryan Mathews carried a full workload at practice for the Chargers on Wednesday, one more step in his path back from a broken clavicle suffered in the first preseason game. Barring any setback in the next couple of days, it looks like Mathews, who has progressively done more work in practice each week, will be on the field when the Chargers face the Falcons in a matchup of 2-0 teams.
“I feel great, I feel healthy, and I feel strong,” Mathews said, via Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune. “I think (the coaches) know what I can do. I know they know I’m ready. It’s a long season, and they’re going to be real smart with me. Really, it’s just taking it day by day and seeing whether I go Saturday when they make that final decision.”
The Chargers also got tight end Antonio Gates back at practice after he missed the Titans win with a rib injury. He was only a limited participant, but coach Norv Turner said that Gates “looked good” during the session. Dante Rosario, who caught three touchdowns in place of Gates, was also limited with a calf injury so we’ll have to wait until later in the week to see what the tight end spot will look like for San Diego this week.
