Doubtful Rivers expresses optimism

By: SCOTT BAIR - Staff Writer
QB practices on injured knee, but listed as doubtful | Friday, January 18, 2008 11:34 PM PST ∞

SAN DIEGO -- Norv Turner should be stressed out come Sunday morning.

Not only will the Chargers head coach be just hours away from the AFC Championship Game against the unbeaten and seemingly invincible New England Patriots, he'll also be anxious to learn the availability of three of his most important players.

Pregame warmups will determine whether quarterback Philip Rivers (knee), tight end Antonio Gates (toe) and defensive tackle Jamal Williams (ankle) will play against New England. The result of such activities may make or break the Chargers' hopes of an upset.

The team listed Rivers and Gates as doubtful for Sunday's contest, while Williams was classified as questionable despite missing the entire week of practice.

Gates didn't practice all week either because of a dislocated big toe.

Rivers practiced Friday for the first time since spraining the medial collateral ligament in his right knee last week against Indianapolis, taking roughly a third of the snaps.

When asked Friday night about media reports claiming Rivers also has a partial tear of his anterior cruciate ligament, a far more serious injury, Chargers president Dean Spanos said, "It's not true."

"Today actually did nothing but give me confidence that I'm going to be able to (play)," said Rivers, who wore a large brace on his knee during practice. "Again, I wasn't going as fast as I will need to go on Sunday, but I was able to take some drops, handoffs and do some things that certainly can ease my mind a little bit that, should it go as I hope, I can get out there Sunday and be effective."

In NFL terms, "doubtful" means Rivers has no more than a 25 percent chance of playing against the Patriots. But as Rivers was packing a suitcase just before the Chargers left for a charter flight to Massachusetts, he seemed far more optimistic than that.

"I feel as good as I could've hoped for at this point on Friday," Rivers said. "We'll see how it feels during warmups, but as of now I'm pretty optimistic that I'm going to be able to go."

If Rivers does start, he doesn't expect the knee will hinder him too much.

"You know, it took my 40 (yard dash) from about (5.0 seconds) to a 5.4, so either way, I don't think they are worried about me leaving the pocket," Rivers said. "... I think the one thing I'm not going to do is play cautiously or play worrying, 'Am I physically okay to do that?' because the minute you do that, you're hitting yourself, hurting the team.

"Like I said, I'm optimistic I'll be out there, and if I am, it won't be at all a hindrance."

Gates made himself scarce during media periods, but running back LaDainian Tomlinson said the tight end's dislocated toe is no worse than it was at this time last week. Gates played against the Colts.

Linebacker Shawne Merriman was also on the injury report after missing significant practice time this week battling the flu, but he should be fine come Sunday.

Tomlinson, who missed the second half of the Colts game after suffering a knee injury, was taken off the report after his second straight day of full practice. Tomlinson said his knee feels fine and hasn't limited him.

"Not so far," Tomlinson said. "But again, playing in a game situation at game speed is going to be totally different. And I still haven't been hit yet, so obviously that's going to play a factor also. But as of now, it hasn't been a problem and I'm expecting that hopefully not to be a problem on Sunday."

Contact staff writer Scott Bair at (760) 739-6642 or sbair@nctimes.com. Staff writer Mike Sullivan contributed to this report.