Following a short walk-through Wednesday, Chargers Park began to empty out.
So begins the bye week.
After seven games, the Chargers will get some much needed rest. They are off until Monday -- So, four days to get healthy, get right, relax and recoup for the second half of the season.
"I think they're all excited to get a little break, get away from the coaches for four days," said head coach Mike McCoy after practice.
Added quarterback Philip Rivers: "I don't think you ever completely shut it off, but for just the daily grind of it, you can turn it back a little bit."
The bye comes at a good time, with several players fighting to get healthy and get back on the field. Linebackers Jarret Johnson and Donald Butler (both absent for the last two games) are among the injured. The offensive line is also wounded, although one point of promise may be that left tackle King Dunlap was on the field running sprints today, just three days after he left the Jaguars' game with a concussion (his second of the season).
"I think [the bye] is good for all of us," Rivers said. "I know our team needs it. We're pretty banged up. You can easily see that."
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When the Chargers come back to work next Monday, they will face the tougher part of their schedule. Four games are on the road and five of the next nine are in the division. At 4-3, the Chargers sit behind the 7-0 Chiefs and the 6-1 Broncos. But, they're not worried about that, they said.
“Our record is what it is," McCoy said. "We’re not going to make any excuses. We have been in every game and have had an opportunity to win every game. For one reason or another we haven’t won three of those games. I think we have made some improvements, but we still have a long way to go.
"You want to win every game, but the record is what it is and we’re moving forward.”
