Chargers’ Antonio Gates questionable for Monday after tweaking hamstring
By Dan Zinski
The San Diego Chargers may be without veteran tight end Antonio Gates Monday night after Gates suffered a hamstring problem during a Saturday morning practice session.
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Gates’ issue is being described as a “tweak.” The Chargers listed Gates as questionable on their Saturday injury report, putting his chances of playing at 50-50. Gates was not listed on any injury reports prior to Saturday.
Head coach Mike McCoy was unavailable to comment on the Gates situation.
The 34-year-old Gates was healthy in 2013, playing in all 16 games on his way to 872 receiving yards, his highest total since 2009 when he eclipsed the 1000-yard mark.
If Gates is unable to play, the Chargers will go with 24-year-old Ladarius Green, a man widely seen as Gates’ heir-apparent in San Diego.
In 2013, Green played all 16 games and caught 17 balls for 376 yards and 3 TDs. Green likely was set to take on a larger role in San Diego’s offense anyway, and that process will only be hastened if Gates is in any way hampered physically.
In 11 years with San Diego, Gates has amassed 719 receptions, 9,193 yards and 87 TDs while being named to 8 Pro Bowls. Those numbers will likely be enough to get him in the Hall of Fame upon his retirement.
San Diego hopes that retirement doesn’t happen for a few more years. His hammy tweak notwithstanding, Gates looks like he has a couple more good seasons in him before he’s ready to retire.
Then again, they do have Green. If he plays well, San Diego might feel more comfortable moving on from Gates. Either way, the Chargers need tight end production if Philip Rivers and their offense are going to thrive.