Of course we're discussing San Diego again. Sure. This is becoming as much of a Friday tradition as the Rams Report Card is on Mondays. Ridiculous. But necessary. Here's the latest Chargers report (which reads a lot like every other Chargers report)…
Ryan Mathews has returned to practice, he's feeling healthy, and he appears likely to get a share of the rushing workload on Sunday. At this point, with Mike Tolbert coming off back-to-back 100-yard efforts, Mathews is really just a nuisance for fantasy owners. Head coach Norv Turner recently told reporters, "If Tolbert is healthy and going, he’s going to get the ball, but Ryan has got to be able to go in too."
Mathews hasn't appeared in a game since Week 9, when he carried nine times for 42 yards, lost a fumble, and aggravated his ankle injury. He's actually averaging 4.4 yards per carry, so it's not as if he's been ineffective, just unreliable. He's also fumbled three times on 102 touches, so ball security has been an issue. Still, Mathews is available in a handful of Yahoo! leagues (20 percent), and his end-of-season schedule isn't so bad: OAK, KC, SF, at CIN, at DEN. It's not unthinkable that he could be this year's version of the dude who disappoints all season, then shines in the fantasy playoffs.
Tolbert has missed some practice time this week due to a bruised right hand, but he's expected to be good to go against Oakland, in a friendly match-up. The Raiders' defense ranks 28th against the run, allowing 133.7 rushing yards per game and 4.4 yards per carry.
Elsewhere in the Chargers' triage unit, Antonio Gates reportedly didn't do any running on Thursday, but plans to be upright and mobile on Friday. We'll see how that goes. He's a game-time decision again, but of course he played in Week 12. Malcom Floyd participated in individual drills on Thursday (probably rode the bike, did some Sudoku, played some Connect Four with Billy Volek). Floyd only played 13 snaps in Week 12 according to the Union-Trib's Kevin Acee, and he seems to be on a similar track at the moment. Vincent Jackson (calf) isn't expected to be involved this week, so Legedu Naanee and Seyi Ajirotutu could be in play in the imaginary game.
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Photo via US Presswire
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