After catching eight passes for 74 yards in the Chargers’ season-opening win against the Vikings, it appeared as if Antonio Gates was back. Two weeks later, it appears as if being “back” has a whole new meaning.
Gates was shutout week two against the Patriots, prompting concern that he had re-aggravated his foot injury. Gates, who didn’t miss a game from 2006-2009, missed the last six games of the season last year with a torn plascia. Although listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Chiefs, Gates was inactive and it’s been reported that his plascia is torn again.
If you’re unsure what that means, read this excerpt from ESPN’s Stephania Bell, written about Gates before the season began:
The plantar fascia is the fibrous tissue along the undersurface of the foot which runs from the heel to the ball of the foot and reinforces the arch. The plantar fascia is placed under tension every time the foot hits the ground as the body weight is loaded through the leg. Imagine now that the tissue is damaged, the fibers are torn and frayed and every step tugs further, weakening that already impaired foundation. The pain is nothing less than excruciating.
Athletes who have suffered from plantar fascia tears often describe the sensation in the arch of their foot as feeling like “walking on broken glass” or “stepping on hot coals.”
Gates tried to practice Friday but was unable to go. Even though the Chargers may feel comfortable playing the Chiefs without him, he is too valuable of a weapon to not have healthy the rest of the year. So what are we saying? Even though Gates appeared to be fine during the preseason and first game of the year, he could be in trouble the rest of the season. If that’s the case, then the Chargers’ Super Bowl hopes would take a major hit.
