SAN DIEGO -- San Diego Chargers edge rusher Dwight Freeney did not practice on Thursday after being limited during workouts yesterday.
Freeney is the team’s leading pass-rusher with two sacks. Even though Freeney did not practice on Thursday, the team has been proactive in limiting the 34-year-old’s reps so that he can last the duration of the season.
Freeney only played in four games last season -- tearing a tendon that cut short his 2013 campaign. Freeney said he’s feeling good, and doesn’t feel overworked a quarter of the way through the season.
“I’m doing pretty well,” Freeney said. “Bumps and bruises always happen. No matter how much you try and monitor yourself and keep the reps down, if someone flies at your knee and bangs it, well, guess what? I don’t care if you didn’t do anything all training camp, you’re going to be banged up. So that’s just the nature of the game.”
Freeney has played an average of 38 snaps a game, and is on pace to play about 60 percent of San Diego’s snaps defensively.
“You’re always worried about those things, and overplaying guys,” Chargers defensive coordinator John Pagano said. “But I think from the standpoint of how a lot of our games have gone numbers-wise, I think it’s worked out very beneficial for us.
“But we’ve got to keep monitoring it. You’ve always got to be aware of players who are up there in age, and not overwork them.”
Chargers head coach Mike McCoy was asked if his team and training staff provided enough preventative measures during offseason work and training camp to avoid the rash of injuries the team is experiencing.
Currently, the Chargers have 14 players listed on this week’s injury report, seven players on the season-ending injured reserve list, and one player, Jeromey Clary, on the reserve physically unable to perform (PUP) list.
Part of the team’s training camp regimen included 13 straight fully padded practices.
“We’ve done everything we’ve thought was right for the football team,” McCoy said. “You always evaluate at the end of the year, the end of OTAs and the end of training camp how you go over everything.
“Unfortunately, it’s the bad part of the business. Guys are going to get injured. It’s all part of the game.”
Freeney noted that while the Chargers may have had 13 straight fully padded practices, some of those practices served as rest days for core veterans who would be counted on to play impact roles during the regular season.
“It may not correlate,” Freeney said, when asked if the physical training camp could have contributed to the team’s rash of injuries. “It might, but it might not. It could be what they do on a regular-day basis. They may not stretch, or they might not ice.
“I don’t know how many injuries are based on that, and not just on circumstance.”
Chargers safety Eric Weddle said he feels stronger than last season, based on the work he put in with San Diego’s training staff at the team facility in the weeks leading up to training camp.
Weddle said it’s the player’s responsibility to make sure he’s done the preventative work in order to avoid nagging injuries that keep them off the field on game days.
“The strength coaches did an unbelievable job this year,” Weddle said. “I think it’s dependent on the player, not only during the offseason but even now. Getting the extra work in before or after practice -- it’s constant. After meetings you have to get more rehab work in, because you’re no good to us if you can’t practice, because you can’t play.”
Along with Freeney, running back Ryan Mathews (knee), center Rich Ohrnberger (back), linebacker Manti Te’o (foot), linebacker Reggie Walker (ankle), cornerback Shareece Wright (knee) and linebacker Jeremaih Attaochu (hamstring) did not practice on Thursday.
Tight end David Johnson (shoulder), defensive lineman Corey Liuget (concussion), cornerback Jason Verrett (hamstring) and linebacker Donald Butler (shoulder) were limited.
Receiver Malcom Floyd (illness), tight end Ladarius Green (hamstring), linebacker Jarret Johnson (shoulder) and linebacker Cordarro Law (ankle) fully participated in practice.
