SAN DIEGO -- Two players critical to the team's success up front on both sides of the ball did not practice on Wednesday for the San Diego Chargers.
Rookie center Chris Watt did not practice after suffering a calf injury in the second half in San Diego's win against the Baltimore Ravens over the weekend. Watt did not return to the game, and was replaced by recent addition Trevor Robinson. If Watt cannot play on Sunday, the Chargers would start their fifth different center this season in Robinson.
"The only way that you really start to feel comfortable is playing in games," Robinson said. "I've been here long enough now that I'm comfortable with the practice routine. So getting those game reps is invaluable.
The Chargers signed Robinson to the team's active roster from Cincinnati's practice squad in Week 7. Signed as a undrafted rookie free agent by the Bengals in 2012, Robinson said he didn't play center until he reached the NFL. In college he played right guard, and Watt played left guard at Notre Dame.
Robinson appeared in 20 games, starting seven games for the Bengals. In his third season, Robinson played 28 snaps in place of an injured Watt last week.
If he starts on Sunday, Robinson said this would be the first time he's faced New England. Even though the Patriots like to run a lot of different things defensively, Robinson said in the end it's all about execution.
"Every team kind of has mixtures that they throw in there," Robinson said. "It's not like a college team, where you can say they're a 4-3 or a 3-4. You can't just prepare for one thing. At this point of the year, there's not very much things that you haven't seen."
Corey Liuget has been San Diego's best interior defensive lineman this year. Liuget leads the Chargers in sacks (3.5) and tackles for loss (14), so it would be a significant loss if he's not available on Sunday. Ryan Carrethers (elbow) missed the past two games and did not practice on Wednesday.
Outside linebacker Dwight Freeney took his usual rest day on Wednesday.
Linebacker Andrew Gachkar (knee) returned to practice after missing last week's game against Baltimore with a knee injury. Gachkar's listed as a full participant on the team's injury report.
Chargers head coach Mike McCoy said offensive lineman Ryan Miller slipped and fell taking the practice field on a rare rainy morning in San Diego, and did not practice. Miller was not taken to the hospital, and is listed as having a groin injury on the team's injury report. Miller suffered the groin injury during Friday's practice, and was not active for Sunday's game in Baltimore.
Running back Ryan Mathews wore the No. 39 jersey during practice in honor of fellow running back Danny Woodhead. It's appropriate, considering the Chargers are playing Woodhead's former team, the Patriots, this week.
"I got tired of not seeing No. 39 out there," Mathews said. "He was more than just a teammate to a lot of us, he's a really good friend. So I thought it might be fun."
Also, the Chargers will be wearing their powder blue uniforms in the nationally televised Sunday night contest against the Patriots.
The Chargers are 15-12 wearing the powder blue jerseys, including a 23-20 loss against Kansas City earlier this season.
