The San Diego Chargers will enter tonight’s game on the road against the Minnesota Vikings shorthanded. San Diego’s starting running back Ryan Mathews broke his clavicle two weeks ago against the Green Bay Packers and could miss the team’s first two regular season games.
Vincent Brown had 19 receptions, 329 yards and two touchdown receptions as a rookie in 2011. Brown had an opportunity to make more of an impact for San Diego with the departure of Vincent Jackson, but he broke his ankle against the Dallas Cowboys last week and could miss almost half of the regular season.
Jared Gaither started five games for San Diego at left tackle last season. Before Gaither was added to the team, Philip Rivers was sacked 28 times in 11 games while he had 16 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. After Gaither was brought in, Rivers was sacked two times in five games while he had 11 touchdowns and three interceptions.
Gaither participated in one practice during the off-season, left with back spasms and has not practiced after this happened. Nick Hardwick was the team’s primary starting center from 2004-2008 and from 2010-2011, which included a Pro Bowl appearance in 2006. Hardwick suffered a concussion against Dallas and could be out of tonight’s game against Minnesota.
Hardwick thought about retirement during the off-season, but re-signed for three years and $13.5 million. Gaither got a four year deal worth $24.6 million to stay with the Chargers. San Diego signed Gaither and Hardwick for a combined $38.1 million with $13.5 million guaranteed to Gaither and $6.5 million to Hardwick.
Injuries are a part of every sport, so hopefully these preseason problems with health will be the only time that San Diego deals with major concerns and will avoid them during the 2012 NFL season.
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