Antonio Gates sore after practicing in limited role
After missing the last two games with a torn plantar fascia in his right foot, San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates returned to practice on Thursday 25 November but admitted afterward that he was incredibly sore. Gates was testing out the status of
his foot as the Chargers prepare for a pivotal matchup against the Indianapolis Colts this Sunday.
"I wanted to see how I would respond to defenders being in the way and making unexpected cuts in the flow of a route," Gates told reporters after practice. "Everything has been controlled to this point. I didn't finish, but I'm incredibly sore."
Although he didn't completely rule himself out against Indianapolis, an obviously uncomfortable Gates said while being interviewed that he'd wait until Friday to make a decision.
"I did this kind of running last week and then I couldn't go for two days," he said. "I couldn't even walk on a treadmill. I don't know what my response is going to be, but I feel like I'm making progress. But it's so painful, and I have to figure out if
I can play through that. The soreness is going to be there, and I have to deal with it. I'm trying to speed this process up as much as I can by working through the soreness, so I can get back on the field as quickly as possible."
When Gates missed games against the Houston Texans and the Denver Broncos it was the first time in his eight-year career that he sat out because of injury. The six-time Pro Bowler had also been having an incredible start to the season and was on pace to
set career highs for yards and touchdown catches.
After a terrible start to the season the Chargers have won two games in a row without Gates in the lineup and are beginning to become contenders once again. All the same, the Chargers would prefer to have Gates in their lineup.
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