CHARGERS NOTES: Gates, Hardwick still recovering

By MIKE SULLIVAN - Staff Writer | Friday, July 25, 2008 9:12 PM PDT ∞

SAN DIEGO ---- The Chargers placed four players on the Physically Unable to Perform list on Friday, including tight end Antonio Gates and center Nick Hardwick.

Gates (toe) and Hardwick (foot) are still recovering from offseason surgeries.

Joining the two standout performers on the list are fullback Andrew Pinnock and linebacker Anthony Waters, both recovering from knee surgeries.

"Obviously, it gives them a chance to get healthy," Chargers coach Norv Turner said of the four players Friday evening. "It's really not a major deal. When they're ready to go, we'll take them off it and they'll start practicing."

A player placed on the PUP list can be pulled from it at any time, as long as they pass a physical before the final roster cutdown on Aug. 30. A player not pulled from the list by that date must miss the first six regular-season contests.

Hardwick is the likeliest player to still be on the PUP list when the season begins. He said his foot is progressing well, but said he has a long way to go in terms of building back muscles that have atrophied.

"I can't give any predictions as to when I'll be ready to actually play football," Hardwick said. "I'm pushing hard and going as I can tolerate it."

Gates said he expects to pass a physical by Aug. 30.

"It's a better situation," Gates said of being placed on the PUP list. "Instead of me having expectations to come back early, I can kind of set a goal, and then if I get healthy, I can continue to do things with the team to get ready instead of feeling I have to force myself to being out there in training camp."

Cason's first day

Cornerback Antoine Cason received a lot of grief from his teammates Friday, one day after reaching contract terms with the Chargers. Cason missed the team's three rookies' practices earlier this week.

"All the guys in there were giving me a hard time about it," said Cason, who admitted to a sleepless night in anticipation of his first official NFL practice. "(Fellow cornerback) Quentin Jammer gave me the hardest time. But it's all fun. That's just part of it."

Turner said that Cason made some mental mistakes during Friday's morning walkthrough ---- Cason laughed, saying he didn't remember any ---- but was glad to see the first-round pick on the field.

"It's nice to have him here," Turner said. "I was extremely impressed with him during our offseason work. He's a very natural football player. He's a very instinctive football player and he's going to help us."

Et cetera

QB Philip Rivers realizes he has to be smart with the right knee he had repaired six months ago after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament. "It's going to be really key for me to stay on top of it," said Rivers, who has been warned by players that have gone through the procedure that the knee will go through tired spells during training camp. "Come week two, week three of camp, it'll start dragging. It's the strength. It'll run out of gas a lot quicker than the left one. So that's what's going to be key, to keep filling up the tank." ... Team president Dean Spanos had his left arm in a sling Friday after recently undergoing minor wrist surgery. Spanos should be out of the sling within the next few days. .. The Chargers practice twice today (9-10:45 a.m. and 4-6 p.m.). Both practices are open to the public.