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Third Chargers center out for season

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A Chargers center, for the third time this season, is out for the year.

Rich Ohrnberger will undergo back surgery and soon be placed on injured reserve, sources said Monday. Chris Watt, a rookie third-round pick, will have the opportunity to cement himself as the team’s center of the future, a vacancy existing there in light of Nick Hardwick’s status.

Ohrnberger did well to play this deep into the year.

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His back limited him the past couple months, requiring continuous management on the part of him, the coaches and athletic training staff. He first appeared on the injury report in Week 3 when listed as probable to face the Bills in Buffalo. There was, however, enough concern to warrant the beginning of what became a trend.

Tackle-guard Jeremiah Sirles traveled with the team on road trips, not only gaining the experience of being on the visitor’s sideline but providing the security that, should a Saturday transaction be needed due to Ohrnberger’s condition, someone was there for promotion from the practice squad.

Ohrnberger missed the following two games.

Whether a promotion comes now for Sirles remains to be seen. What is clear is Watt’s opportunity has arrived and won’t soon end.

The former Notre Dame guard worked on the right side early this season, rotating every couple series while developing his center skill set on the practice field. On Sunday, he made his first NFL start. He stepped in for Ohrnberger, inactive with both the back and an ankle injury, the latter of which he suffered a week earlier against the Raiders.

Watt is the only Chargers center whose future in San Diego is clear.

Hardwick, an 11-year veteran, was placed on injured reserve in September due to recurring neck issues. The 33-year-old has since lost more than 60 pounds to around 230, an effort viewed to be part of his progression to the next chapter in his life. The intention to retire is not something Hardwick is prepared to discuss publicly, not wanting to distract from his team.

There is a time and place for announcements. His is expected in early 2015.

A slimmed-down Hardwick has been on the sideline for several games in support of his teammates, often standing beside Jeromey Clary. The guard is out for the season due to a hip injury.

Respected locker-room leaders, each man is in the final year of his respective contract.

“One looks like a tight end now, and one looks like a good fullback,” coach Mike McCoy said Monday. “Those two guys have lost a lot of weight; they’re in great shape right now. It’s fun to have them around. They’re great leaders. They mean a lot to this football team. This organization is where it is today because of guys like that.”

In Sunday’s win over the Rams, Watt became the fourth Chargers center to start a game this year.

Hardwick, Ohrnberger and Doug Legursky (knee) are the others. Ohrnberger started seven weeks, Legursky two and Hardwick one. Legursky and Ohrnberger are under one-year contracts that are scheduled to expire in March.

Watt’s versatility is such that his future, at this point, shouldn’t be pinned to one position.

It would not surprise, though, if the center job is his beyond 2014.

He certainly has earned the chance to claim it, impressive as recently as Sunday. A third-quarter block on Rams defensive tackle Michael Brockers helped clear an alley through which Ryan Mathews scored a 32-yard touchdown.

“You love the way he plays the game,” McCoy said. “He’s a young player that’s really taking his game to another level, moving from the position flexibility he’s shown to have. ... He truly loves to play the game, and you can see that, running down the field, celebrating on big runs or big catches or in the end zone. ...

“He works extremely hard and doesn’t say a lot. He’ll be out there in training camp, puking his guts out and just get back in the next play and keep going.”

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