Gates No Lock to Play Sunday

Chargers tight end remains "undecided"

Even in limited snaps, Chargers tight end Antonio Gates is still not sure how he made it through Sunday's game against the Colts.

The sharp, cutting pain from the torn plantar fascia in his right foot kept him from feeling like Superman on the football field. Whether he dresses this Sunday running routes like a mere mortal again, the superstar says he is unsure.

On Wednesday, the always candid Gates hosted what has informally become a weekly injury summit with reporters inside the Chargers locker room. This time, he spoke for nearly a full 10 minutes about his decision to face the Colts and now the Raiders, calling the latter choice β€œundecided.”

β€œI have to try to make a decision week by week about what games I feel like me being out there is beneficial for the team,” Gates said. β€œI just felt the Colts game was a big game on the road, and me being out there, maybe they draw their attention to me and allow other guys to get singled up. Whether or not that worked, I'm still not sure that was the case.”

If Gates is picking and choosing when to play based on matchup, it would not be a surprise if he ultimately chooses to rest on Sunday with a crucial game against the AFC West-leading Kansas City Chiefs looming next week.

He said he will gain a better sense of his playing status for the Raiders game after he tests his foot on Friday and sees how it feels on Saturday night and Sunday morning.

β€œI don't want this to be a constant lingering thing throughout the season,” Gates said. β€œ...I think that's my motive because I think that's what's best for the team. ...Instead of being 60, 60, 60 (percent) all the way through the whole season, I want to eventually get to the point where I'm 100 percent and I can play at the level I know I can play at.”

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