Rivers facing knee surgery

Jan 21, 2008 - 10:29 PM SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers revealed Monday that he played in Sunday's AFC championship game with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee that will require surgery.

The Chargers initially reported that Rivers suffered a partial tear in last week's 28-24 victory over the Indianapolis Colts.

The injury, however, turned out to be more serious, as Rivers suffered a full tear of the ligament and will undergo surgery in the coming weeks.

"It's gone," Rivers said of the ligament. "We're just kind of figuring out when and where to take care of everything."

After being doubtful for most of the week, Rivers started against the New England Patriots and completed 19-of-37 passes for 211 yards with two interceptions in the Chargers' 21-12 loss.

San Diego moved the ball well against the unbeaten Patriots, gaining 311 yards, but they had to settle for four field goals.

Chargers coach Norv Turner praised his quarterback on Monday.

"I've never been around the mental toughness," Turner said. "I've never been around an attitude like that. Then, to go and play the way he did, it's one for the books. I think it says a lot about him as a person."

Rivers also revealed that he underwent an arthroscopic procedure the day after the Chargers' win over the Colts to clean out some loose cartilage in the knee.

"Really, that was the only way I would have had a chance to play," he said. "We cleaned it up on Monday so I could play against New England."

Facing a recovery period of four to six months, Rivers hopes to be ready for training camp in August.

"I like to think of myself as a fast healer, so I'll be ready, for sure, for the season," he said.