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San Diego Chargers’ Melvin Ingram practices

By Andrew Melnick

Dec 30, 2012; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers outside linebacker Melvin Ingram (54) in the rain during the fourth quarter against the Oakland Raiders at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2012; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers outside linebacker Melvin Ingram (54) in the rain during the fourth quarter against the Oakland Raiders at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 30, 2012; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers outside linebacker Melvin Ingram (54) in the rain during the fourth quarter against the Oakland Raiders at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2012; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers outside linebacker Melvin Ingram (54) in the rain during the fourth quarter against the Oakland Raiders at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /

San Diego Chargers’ linebacker Melvin Ingram returned to practice on Wednesday.

Ingram, the 18th overall pick of the 2012 NFL draft, had surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee back in May and started the regular season on the physically unable to perform list.

“Mentally I’m strong,” Ingram told Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com. “I just feel like if the trainers say I’m ready to go out there, then I’m ready and I’m going to go full speed. If I’m going to get hurt, then God already has that written into my plans.”

Although he has returned to practice, Ingram remains on the PUP list. The Chargers have to activate Ingram by December 10 or he will have to miss the remainder of the season.

“He’s got a ways to go,” Chargers’ head coach Mike McCoy said. “And I think he’ll tell you the same thing — whether it’s conditioning level, or just the techniques and doing certain things and playing ball again. When you’re out of it for that long, you knock some of the rust off on a daily basis.”

As a rookie in 2012, Ingram had 41 tackles, five passes defensed and a forced fumble.

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