When Manti Te'o's foot injury was first disclosed by the San Diego Chargers on Aug. 10, they said he’d be out a week.
Nine days later, the starting rookie inside linebacker is out of the walking boot, but he is not practicing. He is working on the side. That is a good sign, but it is unclear if Te'o will be ready to play Saturday in the team’s third preseason game. He was hurt in the preseason opener and he has not worked since. Because he is a rookie starter, Te’o needs all the preseason work he can get.
Standout defensive end Corey Liuget didn’t practice with a shoulder injury. Receiver Eddie Royal was at the team’s complex Monday. He suffered a bruised lung Saturday and spent the night in the hospital.
In other AFC West notes:
Alex Barron does not have a fan in former boss Billy Devaney. On ESPN on Monday, the former St. Louis general manager said the only thing Barron likes about football is getting paid. Barron is currently the Raiders’ starting left tackle because Jared Veldheer is out for about three months with a triceps injury. Barron struggled in the preseason game at New Orleans on Friday. I wouldn’t be shocked if he is not Oakland’s starter Week 1 at the Colts.
Receiver Jacoby Ford and defensive tackle Vance Walker came back to practice in Oakland. Ford and Josh Cribbs could engage in a roster battle. They are similar players and both have been slowed by injuries. Safety Tyvon Branch missed practice for Oakland on Monday.
Several veteran receivers were cut Monday, including Mohamed Massaquoi, Mike Thomas, Steve Breaston and Patrick Crayton. Thus, add receivers the receiver-needy Chargers can consider. The Chargers need depth.
The two new starting quarterbacks in the AFC West -- Kansas City’s Alex Smith and Oakland’s Matt Flynn -- are among the leading quarterbacks in snap counts through the first half of the preseason. It makes sense as these two players get used to their new systems.
GQ Magazine takes a look at the life of the late Junior Seau. It’s worth a look.
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