Rivers progressing

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Friday, Apr 11, 2008
By Casey Pearce, Chargers.com

Quarterback Philip Rivers has contested throughout this offseason that patience would be his biggest challenge as he recovers from a February operation to repair the Anterior Cruciate Ligament in his right knee.

Rivers had that patience tested once again when he had to watch as Bolts quarterbacks and skill players began throwing together at Chargers Park this week.

“It was tough,” Rivers said. “I snuck in there and threw a couple from the shotgun but I got pulled out of there pretty fast.”

Twelve weeks into his rehabilitation period, Rivers is very pleased with the progress he’s made. He started running roughly one week ago and on Friday added some more resistance training to his workout.

“I started out with a little jog,” Rivers said. “I was going about as hard as I can go today. It feels good. I think I’m ahead, but at least where I need to be right now.”

While Rivers’ knee isn’t quite ready to handle all the mechanics required to drop-back and throw from the pocket, he is picking up a football and flinging it around a little.

“I’m to the point now where I can at least keep my arm going and do some throwing,” Rivers said. “I can’t do the full-speed drops with the timing. I can stand (still) and give you all I’ve got. It’s the drop. It’s getting out there, jamming my foot in the ground and letting it rip. I couldn’t do that at the pace where Vincent (Jackson) and Buster (Davis) and those guys are running.

“I can still have my arm in shape and keep getting ready so when I am able to step right in there, at least I’m going to be ready up top.”

In addition to strengthening his knee, Rivers is also devoting much of his time to his entire right leg. After keeping most of his weight off his plant leg, he’s had to push himself to regain the strength throughout the leg.

“The biggest thing is everything else: your quad, your calf, your hamstring,” Rivers said. “I didn’t realize how all that can shut down so quickly after a knee surgery. The actual knee feels really good. It’s getting the other stuff back to where it was. That’s one of the things I’m really working on right now.”

Rivers is more than confident that he’ll be ready for the start of training camp in late July. He said earlier this offseason that he’d like to be able to participate in at least some of the Offseason Coaching Sessions, which begin May 19, although he promises to continue to use his best judgment as to how quickly he makes it back.

“I know I’ll be able to (participate),” Rivers said. “Whether it’s the right thing to do, we’ll see. Physically I’ll be able to do it but we’re going to be smart. Regardless, the first day of training camp, other than the brace, I don’t think you’ll be able to tell.”

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