Knee injury grounds Tomlinson

Jan 21, 2008 - 10:32 PM By Tom Torrisi PA SportsTicker Pro Football Editor

In the days leading up to the AFC championshi game, the San Diego Chargers' daily injury report offered a mixed bag.

While the playing status of quarterback Philip Rivers and tight end Antonio Gates became increasingly doubtful, the Chargers could take solace in the fact the superstar running back LaDainian Tomlinson was expected to be close to 100 percent.

Those good vibes in regards to Tomlinson lasted about five minutes into Sunday's game against the undefeated New England Patriots.

The 2006 NFL Most Valuable Player, Tomlinson aggravated a knee injury on San Diego's second series of the game and watched the remainder of the Chargers' 21-12 loss from sideline.

"I just didn't have it," Tomlinson told the San Diego Union-Tribune. "It wasn't going to cooperate, and I didn't have (any) burst. ... You're helpless. You can't help your team at all. I'm kind of at a loss for words."

As Tomlinson stayed bolted to the bench with his helmet still on and dark visor covering his face, Rivers played admirably through his own severe knee injury.

The fourth-year quarterback suffered a sprained MCL in his right knee against the Indianapolis Colts on January 13.

Indeed, that was the case for Rivers, who confirmed the injury and will have to undergo another surgery. Rivers revealed Monday that he underwent an arthroscopic procedure the day after the Chargers' win over the Colts to clean out some loose cartilage in the knee.

That Rivers managed to play left some of his teammates in awe - but not surprised.

"I will say this - Philip Rivers is the most courageous teammate I ever had and the most courageous man I have ever seen," Chargers defensive end Luis Castillo said. "For him to go out there and play today, nobody will ever comprehend what that means.

"I never doubted for one second, after seeing him on Monday and the things he went through, I never doubted for one second that Philip Rivers wouldn't be on that field."

While Castillo expressed no doubts that his quarterback would play, Rivers had his own reservations, particularly early in the week.

"There was a significant amount of doubt on Monday, Tuesday," Rivers said. "I think as we kept rehabbing, kept going, I felt Friday I had a good chance. Obviously with limited practice, it was certainly my reason to say let's see how it goes. Obviously, you never know but I certainly felt like I had a good chance or I wouldn't have gone out there."

Still, while Rivers was listed as doubtful on Friday, Tomlinson was removed from the team's injury report just five days after suffering a hyperextended knee against Indianapolis.

Yet on his first carry against the Patriots, Tomlinson said he got hit flush on the ailing knee. He ended up with just two carries for five yards and had one reception for one yard.

"It's obvious that I couldn't play. If I could have played, I would have been in there," Tomlinson said. "It was just the impact of getting hit that first play, right on it. I thought that would be the test, taking a hit on it. I don't know how I get direct hits on it ... it's just been two bad weeks for me. I usually don't take shots like that. It just happened."

Tomlinson said he suffered a sprained knee ligament but it likely will not require surgery. Nonetheless, that led to questions from the media about Tomlinson's inability to play through pain, as opposed to Rivers, which irked San Diego coach Norv Turner.

"The pain in the knee, what he felt, he couldn't push off it and he couldn't go," Turner said. "Don't get into that. I mean, that's the stupidest thing you could ask,. The guy was not able to go. The doctors and trainers said he couldn't go."

And without their star running back, the Chargers had only one place to go - home for the offseason.