Chargers running back Ryan Mathews jogged out of the tunnel. He high stepped on the sideline. He told coach Norv Turner he could return to the game.
The way Mathews responded to his second-quarter ankle sprain last Sunday against the Jaguars, there was little doubting whether or not he would be ready to start this Sunday against the Seahawks.
There's doubt now.
On Wednesday, Mathews told Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune he has a high ankle sprain. Typically, that injury carries a multiple-week timetable for recovery.
“They’re going to go on how I feel,” said Mathews, who was wearing a boot in the locker room. “I feel good. …I don’t think it was that bad. They’re going to take precautionary measures to make sure my career isn’t going to be upset over an ankle. …Something that could be a week, if I don’t treat it right could be six weeks.”
Just ask Michael Turner.
Last year, the former Chargers running back suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 10. He missed one week, returned and aggravated it the next week, missed two more weeks, returned and aggravated it again, then missed the final two weeks of the season.
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The Chargers plan to err on the side of caution with Mathews, only inserting him into action when he's ready. He has not yet been ruled out for this week's game.
Mathews did not participate in practice Wednesday or Thursday. More information on his status will be available throughout the week. Mike Tolbert and Darren Sproles would share the backfield if Mathews sits.
