SAN DIEGO (AP) -Chargers center Nick Hardwick feels questionable, which in his case is a good thing.
Out the first three games as he continued to rehab his surgically repaired right foot, Hardwick participated in all of practice on Wednesday as the Chargers began preparing for Sunday’s game at AFC West rival Oakland.
NFL teams don’t give a player’s status until Friday’s injury report. Hardwick hopes he’ll be listed as questionable, which means he’d have a 50-50 shot.
“It gives me a good chance to play,” Hardwick said. “I’ll take another 50 reps tomorrow and see where I’m at. We’ll see what the coaches think. They watch the film and see if they think I look ready or not.”
The Chargers (1-2), like a lot of NFL teams, make it a habit to be vague about the status of injured players.
“Well,” coach Norv Turner said, sighing, “it’ll be up to the end of the week, and Saturday or Sunday we’ll decide if he’s ready to play. He took most of practice today, we’ll see how his foot responds and how it feels tomorrow.”
e Chargers played the same game last week with left tackle Marcus McNeill, who made his first start this season on Monday night after missing the first two games because of a neck stinger.
General manager A.J. Smith didn’t return a phone call seeking comment.
Hardwick had surgery on his sprained right foot on March 14. He was hurt early in a game against the Raiders on Oct. 14 and missed the next four games. He played in the final six regular-season games and three playoff games.
Jeremy Newberry, who has started in Hardwick’s absence, sat out practice Wednesday, giving him an extra day to rest following Monday night’s 48-29 win against the New York Jets. Newberry has had a seven knee surgeries in his career.
“The plan coming in is I wasn’t going to practice Wednesday after I played,” said Newberry, who was with the Raiders last season. “I’ve been doing it because I’ve been feeling good because I’ve had a couple days to rest. But only having one day, I was just a little sore. Nothing’s changed. I still feel good.”
Turner said Newberry had “come in and done an outstanding job.”
Hardwick, a Pro Bowler in 2006, gives the Chargers a comfort level.
f reps you’ve had together, you can’t replace that.”
LaDainian Tomlinson, who scored his first two touchdowns of the season on Monday night, also sat out practice to rest his jammed right big toe. He said he should be good to go on Sunday, when the Chargers will try for their 10th straight win against their biggest rival.
“It’s doing all right,” Tomlinson said. “It’s only been two days. It’s doing pretty good, so I’m very optimistic about this week.”
Tomlinson definitely won’t want to miss this one.
In 14 career games against the Raiders, Tomlinson has rushed for 1,709 yards. With 55 yards Sunday, he will surpass Hall of Famer Barry Sanders (1,763 against Tampa Bay) for the most yards rushing through 15 games against a single opponent since 1970.
Tomlinson has 19 total touchdowns through 14 games against the Raiders. With two touchdowns Sunday he would surpass Hall of Famer Marcus Allen for the most total touchdowns through 15 games against a single opponent since 1970. Allen, a San Diego native who played the first 11 seasons of his career with the Raiders while they were in Los Angeles, scored 20 TDs in his first 15 games against the Chargers.
Dielman, the left guard, also sat out practice with a thigh injury, as did tight end Antonio Gates (hip) and defensive tackle Jamal Williams (knees).
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