Ryan Matthews, Nick Hardwick miss Chargers’ practice

The San Diego Chargers were without two key pieces as they took the practice field Wednesday.

Running back Ryan Matthews and center Nick Hardwick did not participate in practice.

Matthews rushed for 52 yards in Sunday’s 27-10 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, but was limited to just 13 carries because of a lingering sore ankle injury that has been bothering him for the last three weeks.

Matthews, who rushed for 127 yards on 29 carries in a 27-20 win over the Denver Broncos on December 12, did not practice last Wednesday (or Thursday) either.

“You’re not going to be 100 percent,” Mathews told Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com. “There’s a difference to playing hurt or injured. You’ve just got to keep going.”

Hardwick’s injuries appear to be more severe than Matthews’ ailments.

“The whole game he was being diagnosed for his stinger,” Chargers’ head coach Mike McCoy said. “And then after the game he had some concussion-like symptoms. So after the game, they diagnosed him with a concussion.”

The Chargers and Broncos will kick off at 4:40 pm EST Sunday and the game is on CBS.