Another step forward

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Monday, Jun 02, 2008
By Casey Pearce, Chargers.com

When Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers underwent surgery in January to repair a torn Anterior Cruciate Ligament in his right knee, Head Coach Norv Turner was resigned to the fact that his starting signal caller may not be able to participate in the team’s offseason program.

“I was prepared to have him really not do anything except throw routes against air,” Turner said Monday. “He’s just making great progress.”

After a week off, the Chargers resumed Offseason Coaching Sessions Monday and Rivers showed that he’s taken another step forward as he led the offense in team drills throughout the practice.

“Just personally, I was excited about going today,” Rivers said. “I was excited to play football again. Up to this point it’s just been 7-on-7. You don’t get a great feel for it with that. Today was fun. Sitting here the beginning of June, I feel really good about where we are (in the rehab process).”

Turner said that as a “Memorial Day gift” he allowed Rivers to take roughly 10 snaps with the offense in the team’s final practice before last week’s holiday. That was the first time Rivers had worked live against a full defense, and the five-year veteran increased his workload Monday morning.

Rivers has been pleased with his play throughout the spring and was encouraged by the fact that he was able to simply throw the ball without thinking about his knee during Monday’s practice.

“I think throwing the ball I’ve been as accurate as I’ve been during an offseason,” Rivers said. “If I can just keep working, the key thing is just make sure I’m completely comfortable in the pocket and not worrying about something happening. I really didn’t think about it today. When you’ve got people flying around you, you don’t have time to think about it. You just react and play. I felt like I stayed within myself.”

For Rivers, Monday was simply another step forward in what has been a smooth rehab process that will likely have him ready to go full throttle when the Chargers open training camp in late July.

“I think it’s been pretty standard,” Rivers said. “There are days when you go out there and feel really good and there are days when you’re a little sore. Fortunately there’s been nothing where we’ve had to say, ‘Let’s back off of this. Let’s take a week off.’ I’ve just been able to make steady progress.”

After commenting on Rivers, Turner provided brief updates on a pair of other offensive players who are working their way back from injuries. Turner joked that he saw tight end Antonio Gates run last week for the first time since offseason foot surgery.

“He was a little bit late for a meeting the other day and he started running down the hall,” Turner said through a smile.

In actuality, Gates is not yet running but has given his head coach reason to be encouraged by his progress.

“He’s exercising and working it pretty good,” Turner said. “He’s making great progress. I don’t think they want him running yet.”

“It’s hard. The guys are making progress. We know it’s going to be slow. Our goal is to have them where they can get working in camp and be ready for the season. We’re lucky because they’re guys that have played a lot.”

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