Lt To Miss Chargers Home Opener Against -- Nfl FanHouse

Chargers rule out LT for second straight game

Posted Sep 25, 2009 6:09 PM

By BERNIE WILSON

(AP)

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SAN DIEGO -LaDainian Tomlinson has been ruled out of the San Diego Chargers' home game against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, the second straight game he'll miss due to a sprained right ankle.

Tomlinson was hurt in a season-opening win at Oakland and missed last Sunday's home-opening loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

"I don't have a comment about it. It is what it is," said Tomlinson, who added that he feels it's getting better.

After going eight regular seasons without missing a game due to injury, Tomlinson will have missed three of the Chargers' last four games. The first came in January when a groin injury kept him from playing in the Chargers' playoff loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Until then, the only time he missed a start was the regular-season finale in 2004, when then-coach Marty Schottenheimer rested him and some other key veterans to keep them fresh for the playoffs.

"It's hard because you'd like to have all your guys," coach Norv Turner said Friday. "It's crazy, because on Sept. 1, when people were asking me what I thought about camp, I said it was great that we were healthy and had all our guys, because that's something we haven't had in a while.

"I think we're doing the right thing with L.T. Obviously he couldn't play this week, you know, but he's getting better and hopefully he'll be able to go next week. if not, he'll be ready to go when the bye's over."

The Chargers (1-1) play at Pittsburgh on Oct. 4 before having their bye week.

Darren Sproles will start again in L.T.'s place. Sproles, who also returns kickoffs and punts, has 524 all-purpose yards in two games.

Also ruled out of Sunday's game is center Nick Hardwick, who had ankle surgery on Wednesday and is expected to miss the next eight weeks, and backup defensive end Travis Johnson (groin).

Rookie right guard Louis Vasquez (knee) and backup outside linebacker Antwan Applewhite (hamstring) are listed as doubtful.

Inside linebacker Kevin Burnett, who injured a knee when he collided with receiver Craig Davis during Friday's practice, is listed as questionable, as is outside linebacker Shawne Merriman.

Listed as probable are inside linebacker Stephen Cooper (ankle), punter Mike Scifres (groin) and five players who were sick at some point this week: left tackle Marcus McNeill, left guard Kris Dielman, safety Eric Weddle, inside linebacker Brandon Siler and rookie safety Kevin Ellison,

"I think we're beyond the guys who had it," Turner said. "I obviously have a concern that they're not too drained, but I think we have a couple days to get them back. My concern is what's going to pop up tomorrow morning or Sunday morning because obviously it's going through the building."

2009-09-25 18:35:04