Eric D. Williams 9y

Ryan Mathews, Keenan Allen could return this week

SAN DIEGO – Chargers coach Mike McCoy could have some reinforcements this week heading into the team’s final regular-season contest against the Kansas City Chiefs.

McCoy said running back Ryan Mathews and receiver Keenan Allen are possibilities to return to practice and ultimately to the field on game day.

Mathews missed the past two games with a severe ankle sprain and has not practiced over the period. Allen missed last week’s game against the San Francisco 49ers with a broken collarbone and an ankle injury.

McCoy did not provide injury updates on center Chris Watt (ankle), guard Johnnie Troutman (knee) and cornerback Shareece Wright (concussion). However, he praised the guys who replaced them in backup center Trevor Robinson, guard Jeremiah Sirles and cornerback Steve Williams.

McCoy also said that quarterback Philip Rivers is expected to play on Sunday against the Chiefs. Rivers has been dealing with a bulging disk in his back that was injured against the Baltimore Ravens on No. 30. McCoy said whether Rivers will continue playing with the injury is a group decision, and that it’s not career threatening.

“If that was the case and we didn’t think he could play this Sunday, we wouldn’t put him in there,” McCoy said. “We have plenty of medical advice, not just with Philip, but with everyone in this organization and in the NFL. Everyone has had some form of injury that they deal with at some point of the year. Philip will play on Sunday.”

Rivers did not practice on Monday and Tuesday last week to rest his ailing back. The Chargers could take a similar tact with Rivers this week.

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