Gates Returns To Chargers Practice

The San Diego Chargers on Tuesday took tight end Antonio Gates off the physically-unable-to-perform list and Gates participated in portions of the team’s practice after passing a physical, according to the Associated Press.  Gates has recently recovered form surgery he underwent nearly six months ago to repair a tear in the plantar plate of his left foot; he was placed on the PUP list in July.  According to Gates,

“Today was a pretty good day. I really pushed it. I gave it my all to see what I could do. ”I hate to look so far down the road because this is a tricky situation.  It’s one of those things where it feels really good one day and you come back another day and it’s sore. It’s one of those injuries where you have to really monitor and make sure I’m not overdoing it.”

Gates also added that if things go according to plan, he expects to be ready for the Chargers’ season opener against the Carolina Panthers on September 7 - but only if there are no setbacks.  If Gates had failed his physical before the team’s final roster cutdown on August 30, he would have had to sit out the team’s first 6 games of the regular season.