Rivers, Tomlinson take part in morning practice

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Friday, May 02, 2008
By Casey Pearce, Chargers.com

Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers went to bed Thursday night feeling a little like a kid on Christmas Eve, anticipating a big day on Friday.

“I couldn’t wait for it to get here this morning,” Rivers said. “Just to get back out, throw the ball around and throw the helmet on again, from here on you just kind of go.”

A little more than three months after undergoing an operation to repair a torn Anterior Cruciate Ligament in his right knee, Rivers was on the field with his teammates Friday morning as they began their 2008 mini camp. Rivers wore a brace on his plant leg but looked sharp as he dropped back, set his foot in the ground and delivered the ball with zip to his receivers.

“Philip being out here is a bonus,” Head Coach Norv Turner said. “I’m trying to slow him down. He’s doing the things he’s doing because he’s ready to do them. (Head Athletic Trainer) James (Collins) feels that he’s healed and he’s strong. He’s strong enough to do the things he’s doing. I’m going to be conservative, but he’s been doing this for the last three weeks, dropping back and throwing the ball. It’s good for him to get some work.”

The morning session, the first of two practices for the Chargers Friday, did not feature any scrimmage situations. The offense worked on one field and the defense on another for the entire session. When the two units come together Friday afternoon and over the weekend, Rivers will be a little more cautious.

“He’s not going to do anything where he’s involved with our defense because I don’t want someone tripping and falling into him,” Turner said.

At the conclusion of practice, Rivers expressed a little soreness but was happy with the way the morning went.

“It’s not 100 percent, but for what we’re doing today I was able to pretty much go full go,” Rivers said. “It felt good this morning. To this point we’ve made a lot of progress. It’s still a little sore. We’ve got a ways to go until I’m fully ready, but we have just that. We have a couple months left so I’m in good shape.”

Rivers will wear a brace on the knee throughout the season, but he joked Friday that if it hinders him at all, fans probably won’t be able to notice.

“Once you get comfortable with it, with my blazing speed, it’s not going to hinder me too much,” Rivers said.

Rivers once again promised to be aggressive, yet patient as he pushes himself through the rehab process while continuing to be cautious enough with the knee.

“I’ve been smart,” Rivers said. “I’m not going to do anything silly that can cause a setback for me and can potentially hurt me and the team. We’ve been conservative but conservatively aggressive. I’m at the stage where you’ve got to push it. You’ve got to be somewhat aggressive but still be smart.”

In addition to Rivers, another Charger coming off a postseason knee injury was on the field Friday. Running back LaDainian Tomlinson, who has given his injured knee some rest this offseason after spraining his Medial Collateral Ligament during the postseason, at least appeared 100 percent in the morning practice.

“I’m feeling good,” Tomlinson said. “It’s a start. (Philip and I) both wanted to come out and get some work in. I think we’re both happy with just coming out here and running around and getting started.”

Turner was pleased with what he saw from the centerpiece of his offense.

“LT’s great,” Turner said. “He’s been involved in the offseason program. He’s the two-time defending leading rusher and I’m sure he’d like to do it a third year in a row.”

While Rivers and Tomlinson were able to break the huddle, a handful of other Bolts spent the morning in the weight room while their teammates practiced.

Tight end Antonio Gates underwent an operation on his toe in late February. He’s seen progress lately as he’s off the crutches and no longer in a protective boot, but he’s not yet ready to run.

“It’s coming,” Gates said. “It’s a feel thing. It’s not like you can put an estimate of time on it. They give you an estimated time, but you never know. I’m able to do more things and be more active than I was just a few weeks ago. It makes me feel a lot better, a whole lot better.”

For some time, Gates felt awkward just trying to get around but says that’s no longer the case.

“I’m normal,” Gates said. “The only difference is I haven’t tried to run. Not to say I couldn’t, I just haven’t tried it yet. I want to let it rest and get out there. I’m going to test it to see how I feel, see what I can do and what I can’t.”

Turner seemed pleased with where Gates is in his recovery.

“I think Antonio is doing good,” Turner said. “He’s where we want him. We know it’s going to be a long road and I wouldn’t expect him to be back going and running and doing things until we get to (training) camp. I think our guys we knew wouldn’t be in this camp, we knew wouldn’t be in the June work are making the progress we hoped for and we just hope they stay on schedule.”

Center Nick Hardwick is also watching as he works his way back from a foot operation he underwent in late March.

“The goal is to be ready by the start of the season,” Hardwick said. “We really don’t know.”

Also missing Friday were wide receiver Eric Parker (foot) and newly-signed offensive tackle L.J. Shelton.

“Eric probably will not take reps until we get into our (Offseason Coaching Session) work in late May,” Turner said. “I think he’s doing well. He’s been in our offseason program. He’s running. He’s working. We just want to keep him on the plan we have him on. We have a lot of work in May and June and he’ll get plenty of it.”

Shelton will join the team next week. The team was aware when they signed Shelton that the veteran tackle had a personal issue this weekend that would keep him out of minicamp.

Mike Nowak, Chargers.com

Philip Rivers worked at a strong pace Friday morning.

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