Philip Rivers mum after missed practice
Philip Rivers is not Tony Romo.
He won’t discuss his back injury at length as the Cowboys quarterback did this month, revealing he also was playing with torn rib cartilage, saying before which games he took a painkiller and before which game he regrettably didn’t.
Rivers is not Ben Roethlisberger.
He won’t discuss his chest injury as the Steelers quarterback did in 2012, disclosing how doctors were concerned a rib dislocation could puncture his aorta.
Rivers doesn’t talk injuries.
Wednesday was no exception.
The Chargers submitted their injury report, and for the first time in several years, three words read next to Rivers’ name: “Did Not Practice.” Indications are the 33-year-old will start Saturday versus the 49ers despite being listed with back and chest injuries.
“He’s Iron Man,” wide receiver Malcom Floyd said. “He’s not going to miss this one for the world.”
Such is the precedent.
Floyd is one of four Chargers on the current 53-man roster who were teammates with Rivers the last time he missed a practice. Rivers sat out the practice week prior to the 2007 AFC Championship Game, dealing from a torn anterior cruciate ligament under which he secretly had arthroscopic surgery the Monday before the game.
Rivers started that game in New England.
He hasn’t missed a start since becoming the Chargers’ starter in 2006. His streak of 142 consecutive starts made is the second-longest active in the NFL.
On Wednesday, coach Mike McCoy said that Rivers participated in the morning walkthrough before practice. He added that he expects Rivers will play Saturday.
As for Rivers, well, he didn’t say much.
A usually thoughtful, loquacious and generous interview subject addressed a group of reporters in the locker room. He was asked if he’d like to expand on his rib and back injuries as they were listed.
“No,” Rivers said. “Expand on them? No.”
How does he feel?
“I feel good,” Rivers said.
Is he sore?
“I wouldn’t say too bad,” Rivers said.
He allowed that, as is common with such matters, he had a say in the decision not to practice. Veteran quarterback Kellen Clemens worked predominantly in his place both in Tuesday’s walkthrough-pace practice and Wednesday’s formal session. The Chargers signed quarterback Brad Sorensen to the practice squad Monday in large part to keep Clemens from overuse as they rested Rivers.
“At this point in the week,” Rivers twice prefaced, he has “no doubt” he’ll face the 49ers in Santa Clara.
The Chargers (8-6) are on the cusp of a playoff spot, needing to win Saturday to avoid risk of being eliminated Sunday from playoff contention. If Pittsburgh and Baltimore both win this weekend following a Chargers loss, the team cannot qualify for the postseason.
“I hate not practicing,” Rivers said, “but I think at some point you’ve got to do what’s best for me and the team. Practicing today just wouldn’t have been beneficial moving toward Saturday.”
Rivers has dealt with a rib injury for several weeks.
The ailment became public knowledge when tight end Antonio Gates revealed it after a Nov. 16 win over the Raiders. His comments, made while caught up in the moment of lauding Rivers’ toughness, attracted national headlines. On the next day, apparently spoken to in the time between, Gates backed off his comments on Rivers’ “very severe rib injury,” saying they were taken out of context.
Rivers’ back injury was added to the injury report last Friday but didn’t keep him from playing Sunday against the Broncos. He wasn’t sacked once in the 22-10 loss.
Gates, having learned from experienced, laughed Wednesday when asked about Rivers’ health.
Rivers doesn’t talk injuries. Now, neither does he.
“If I say something, it’ll be on SportsCenter, bro,” Gates said.
