Antonio Gates Expected To Play Sunday
Added on Oct 21, 2011 by Scott in
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The chronic plantar fascia condition that has kept Chargers All-Pro tight end Antonio Gates sidelined since Week 3 won’t prevent him from suiting up for Sunday’s key showdown with the Jets. Gates was a full participant in practice on Friday and barring a setback should be ready to return to the lineup.
San Diego has been cautious with Gates and went so far as to hold him out of Thursday’s practice in order to limit the stress on his ailing foot. The hope is he can provide a boost to the Chargers stalling offense, although there is no guarantee he will play the entire game.
“I think it would be hard to ask him to do that,” Turner said. “We did that in the first two games, and that probably got us where we’re at, so we just have to be smarter. See how he handles it. Play him a couple of series and then give him a series out. Obviously, we’ve been playing without him. I’m sure we can manage that.”
Gates was shutout by the Patriots defense in Week 2 after snagging eight catches for 74 yards in the opener. He is officially listed as questionable on the team’s injury report. In his last two matchups against the Jets, he has ten receptions for 118 yards and a touchdown.
San Diego ranked second in points scored in 2010 averaging 27.6 per game. Thus far in 2011, that number has dipped to 24.0 points which ranks 13th. They’ll face a Jets defense that has been solid versus the pass but surprisingly vulnerable to the run, yielding an average of 132 yards.
Expect a heavy dose of running backs Ryan Mathews and Mike Tolbert, especially with Gates and Vincent Jackson (hamstring) at less than 100%. In addition, both pass catchers could be shadowed by Darrelle Revis at different times during the game.
The Chargers enter the fray as 2-point road favorites.
Source: NFL.com
