CHARGERS NOTES: Cromartie tries to recapture the magic

By MIKE SULLIVAN - Staff Writer | Wednesday, November 19, 2008 10:38 PM PST ∞

Antonio Cromartie has been bothered by a hip injury this season. (Photo by Bill Wechter - For the North County Times)

SAN DIEGO ---- Remember that great coming out party cornerback Antonio Cromartie had when the Chargers hosted the Indianapolis Colts during a nationally televised Sunday night game last season? The one where he intercepted Peyton Manning three times and instantly became a household name? You might recall it but Cromartie insists that his breakthrough game has been erased from his memory.

"To tell you the truth, I don't remember nothing," Cromartie said Wednesday. "Last year was last year. It's a whole different year, to tell you the truth."

The Chargers picked off Manning a career-worst six times during a 23-21 victory with Cromartie nabbing half the interceptions. Most impressive was the highlight-reel one-handed leaping grab that was played over and over on television and the Internet.

Asked a second time about last season's epic performance, Cromartie stuck to his refrain but added he feels he'll be the healthiest he's been since injuring a hip in the season-opening loss to Carolina.

"I'm not worried about what happened last year at all," said Cromartie, who estimates he's playing at about 75 to 80 percent capacity because of the injury.

Cromartie had more interceptions in that one game last season than he's had all this season. He has just two interceptions this season, both coming in one game against the New York Jets.

The third-year corner has struggled at times this season while dealing with hip pain.

"The biggest thing is trying to get more flexibility in my hip and trying to go out there and play the way that I know I'm capable of playing," Cromartie said.

"The way I played the first half or the last couple games, I can't say it's my hip because I'm out there playing.

"My biggest thing is just to compete the best way I can with the injury and still go out and have fun."

While Cromartie doesn't seem to want to revisit his exploits, Colts coach Tony Dungy can't erase them from his head.

"He's a guy who can make plays," Dungy said. "We certainly saw it last year. We' ll have to go at him, but hopefully he doesn't have as much success as he did last year."

Davis placed on IR

Second-year receiver Craig Davis was placed on injured reserve and will miss the remainder of the 2008 season.

The injury-plagued Davis has missed the team's last five games with a groin injury. He aggravated the ailment in pregame warm-ups before the Oct. 12 game against New England and then reaggravated the injury in practice last week while reaching up for a high pass.

Davis, the team's first-round pick in 2007, had just four catches for 59 yards this season. He had 20 catches last season and has been a major disappointment in his first two seasons since being drafted with the 30th overall pick.

Rookie offensive tackle Corey Clark was added back to the active roster to replace Davis. Clark was waived on Saturday and re-signed to the team's practice squad on Monday after clearing waivers.

Et cetera

Players who missed practice Wednesday were DE Luis Castillo (groin), WR Craig Davis (groin), CB Cletis Gordon (knee) and DT Jamal Williams (resting). An encouraging development was that DE Jacques Cesaire (knee) was a full practice participant just three days after being injured against Pittsburgh. ILB Stephen Cooper (elbow) and S Steve Gregory (neck) also were full practice participants while CB Antonio Cromartie (hip) was a limited practice participant. ... CB Grant Mason, recently released by Pittsburgh, was signed to the practice squad.