Ryan Mathews: will return ‘as fast as I can’
Ryan Mathews will miss his third consecutive game Sunday.
The Chargers, as expected, ruled the running back out for the contest against the Chiefs.
Mathews hasn’t practiced in three weeks. He moved slowly and favored his injured right ankle Friday.
Running against the Patriots 19 days earlier, Mathews suffered what appeared to be a nasty sprain. Speaking Friday, he twice described the Dec. 7 injury as frustrating.
“I’m doing my part,” he said. “I’m trying to get back as fast I can.”
Ankle injuries also cost Mathews games or parts of several games in 2010 and 2013.
He said he doesn’t know if this injury is a high ankle sprain. “They all feel the same,” he said.
“It is frustrating,” Mathews said. “But, it’s football.”
Robinson-Sirles, Part II?
It’s expected that rookie Jeremiah Sirles will be the starter at right guard Sunday. Once again, center Trevor Robinson, a third-year player, could to his immediate left.
The two worked side-by-side in Saturday’s game after each replaced an injured starter.
The offensive results were impressive. San Diego turned a 28-7 deficit into a 38-33 victory against the 49ers.
Being a tandem was nothing new for Robinson-Sirles, however. “We worked together a lot because we were on the scout team together,” Sirles said. “We knew how each other works. So, it was a pretty easy transition.”
Sirles played 42 snaps after replacing Johnnie Troutman, who suffered a season-ending injury.
Filling in for rookie center Chris Watt, who exited with an ankle injury, Robinson worked 76 snaps.
Watt sat out both practices this week before appearing Friday as a limited participant. The Chargers listed him questionable for the Chiefs.
Watt was in a similar situation nearly three weeks ago going into the game versus New England. Recovering from a calf injury, his preparations mirrored this week’s -- two missed practices and one limited.
Looking out of synch at times after the Chargers started him, Watt gave up one Patriots sack on a missed assignment and another on a missed block.
Center No. 5
Robinson would be the fifth starter at center for the Chargers this year.
But he is experienced, having started seven games there for the 2012 Bengals. Twice this year, he’s relieved Watt.
Robinson’s confidence has stood out. “I remember when Trevor had to go fill in,” right tackle D.J. Fluker said. “He said, ‘Guys, don’t worry. I’ve been here before.’ Everybody started laughing because he was so confident --but he played a good game.”
Fluker described Sirles, meantime, as “very competitive.”
Robinson grew up in Nebraska before going to Notre Dame; Sirles, from Colorado, played for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. “There’s some corn-fed people,” Fluker said, smiling.
Notably
The Chargers listed WR Keenan Allen (collarbone) doubtful on the injury report. He hasn’t practiced since fracturing a collarbone Dec. 14 ago against Denver.
Playcaller Frank Reich commended Fluker’s last two games, saying the second-year player looked more confident.
CB Shareece Wright said he experienced no symptoms after waking up from the blow that concussed him last Saturday; causing the brain injury, 49ers receiver Bruce Ellington elbowed Wright in the head inadvertently. Wright said it was his first concussion.
Along with Alex Smith (lacerated spleen), the Chiefs ruled out rookie CB Philip Gaines (illness). Gaines made several good plays in Kansas City’s win at San Diego on Oct. 19. The Chiefs listed three starters at questionable: RB Jamaal Charles (hamstring/ankle), WR Dwayne Bowe (shoulder) and G Zach Fulton (foot)
