Chargers Return From Extended Weekend

Bye Week Used For Resting And Forgetting

The Chargers returned from their 4-day bye weekend with meetings and a short walk-through Monday at their Murphy Canyon training facility. Being away from the game, and each other, for a bit seems to have been a good thing.

"You kind of felt the energy today," said wide receiver Eddie Royal. "Even in meetings, the first team meeting everybody was anxious to be back. It's good to get re-energized and come back and make a run."

It's no secret the Bolts have been hampered by injuries this season, and not just the guys who are sitting out. Plenty of nagging issues still linger for consistent players like center Rich Ohrnberger, who has been battling a balky back. He used the time off to rest up. A lot.

"I pretty much left my home once," said Ohrnberger. "That was it. It was just laying around and letting the body and the mind heal."

That lone sojourn did not last very long, and it was not taken by choice.

"I got yelled at, actually," said Ohrnberger. "I didn't actually go anywhere. I got yelled at because I parked my car in the driveway and it was blocking my wife's car. She couldn't get out of the garage, so I just pulled it in to the street, went right back in to the house and laid down."

Sounds like a good way to put that 37-0 loss to the Dolphins in the rear view mirror, something the Chargers were able to accomplish. Almost.

"It's in the past, but it's also kind of right there on your mind," said Royal. "As a competitor, you just hate losing and you know that feeling and you just never want to have it again."

Head coach Mike McCoy was more forceful about forgetting they ever even took a trip to South Florida.

"I'm moving on to Oakland," said McCoy. "I mean, that's over with. If we sit around and dwell about that game, you've got trouble."

With their 3-game losing skid, the Bolts already have all the trouble they'd like to handle. But, reinforcements may be close.

Running back Ryan Mathews is close to returning and may return to practice this week. Ditto linebackers Melvin Ingram and Jerry Attaochu. Injecting young, explosive players in to the lineups could be the impetus to going on another winning streak.

The Chargers return to their regular game-week schedule, taking Tuesday off and practicing Wednesday, Thursday and Friday to get ready for a game against the Oakland Raiders at Qualcomm Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

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