Bolts place four on “Active - PUP” list

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Friday, Jul 25, 2008
By Casey Pearce, Chargers.com

It was a well-known fact that injuries would be a major storyline of Chargers training camp this season, and the first day of full-squad workouts delivered a little news on the injury front.

The Chargers have placed four players – tight end Antonio Gates, center Nick Hardwick, fullback Andrew Pinnock and linebacker Anthony Waters – on the “Active-Physically Unable to Perform” list.

“It gives them a chance to get healthy,” Head Coach Norv Turner said. “It’s really not a major deal. When they’re ready to go we just take them off it and they start practicing.”

All four players remain on the team’s 80-man roster, however each is ineligible to participate in practice until they pass a physical. The players can remain on the “Active-PUP” list until the final roster cutdown date on Aug. 30. If they remain on the list after Aug. 30, they’ll be forced to miss at least the first six weeks of the regular season.

“I think all of them are on schedule and I think you’ll find over the next two or three weeks that gradually we’ll get each of them back,” Turner said.

Gates is recovering from a toe injury. Hardwick is recovering from a foot injury, while Pinnock and Waters are both recovering from knee injuries. Waters underwent an arthroscopic operation on his left knee last week, and Pinnock is recovering from microfracture surgery.

Earlier this week Gates met with the media and provided an update on his rehab, and Hardwick had his first opportunity to update reporters Friday. He’s running on a treadmill and is encouraged with his progress.

“There are a lot of small muscles that haven’t been fired in a long time,” Hardwick said. “It’s getting them used to a workload and building them back up. I can’t give any predictions to when I’m going to actually be ready to play football. I’m pushing hard, going as I can tolerate it.”

Welcome, rookie

Cornerback Antoine Cason may not have been well rested for the first training camp practice of his NFL career, but the Chargers’ top pick did have an enjoyable morning.

“Of course last night I couldn’t sleep,” Cason said. “It was just fun to get out here. It’s just football again.”

Cason said that several of his veteran teammates gave him a hard time about his upcoming “rookie dinner,” reminding him of an annual tradition in which the Chargers’ first-round selection picks up the tab for a pricy dinner.

“Quentin Jammer, he gave me the hardest time,” Cason said. “It’s all fun. I’m having a good time with it.”

The former Arizona Wildcat put it all aside for a productive first day as he delivered an interception during the afternoon practice.

“I was extremely impressed with him during our offseason work,” Turner said. “He’s a very natural football player and a very instinctive football player. He’s going to help us.”

Quick turnaround

Several Chargers players commented on how quickly this past offseason flew by, and there’s good reason for that. After advancing to the AFC Championship Game in late January, it was the shortest offseason the Bolts have experienced.

“Whenever you go that far in the playoffs, it just seems like you go to sleep for two nights and you wake back up and it’s camp again,” Merriman said. “The offseason gets a lot shorter when you go far.”

In the Heart of Texas

Running back LaDainian Tomlinson’s offseason included a couple different vacations, two weekends of football camps for youngsters and a trip to London to promote the Chargers’ Oct. 26 game against the Saints, but he said his most enjoyable activity this spring was simply spending time in good company in his native state of Texas.

“It was a great offseason of really just enjoying the family,” Tomlinson said. “That’s what I try to do in the offseason because I don’t get a lot of opportunities to spend time with them during the season. I went back home more than I have in the past and I think it was good for me.”

Tomlinson reiterated that he feels great and is feeling no lingering effects of the knee injury that slowed him in the playoffs.

Come visit

The Chargers will practice twice on Saturday, from 9-11 am and 4-6 pm. Both practices are open to the public. Sunday afternoon the Chargers will hold their first padded practice of training camp. Fans are also invited to attend that session, which will be held from 4-6 pm.

Mike Nowak, Chargers.com

Antoine Cason enjoyed a productive first day of training camp.

	Chargers veterans report for Training Camp Chargers Veterans report for Training Camp on Thursday July 24, 2008. Play
	LT on training camp LaDainian Tomlinson talks about his knee and the first day of Chargers training camp. Play
	The Chargers' window LaDainian Tomlinson and Shawne Merriman discuss the Chargers' window of opportunity and their goals for 2008. Play
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	Friday Training Camp: LaDainian Tomlinson RB LaDainian Tomlinson talks about the Chargers upcoming season and how he spent his time in the off-season. Play
	Friday Training Camp: Antoine Cason Chargers 1st round draft pick Antoine Cason talks to the media about his first day of practice in the NFL. Play
	Friday Training Camp: Shawne Merriman LB Shawne Merriman comments on how happy he is to get back on the field and to start a new season. Play