SAN DIEGO -- When Malcom Floyd suffered a shoulder injury on Nov. 9 against the Chicago Bears, his pro career with the San Diego Chargers seemed all but over.
But the 34-year-old receiver vowed to make it back on the field in what will be his final NFL season. Floyd remains committed to retiring at the end of the year.
True to his word, Floyd practiced for the second straight day on Thursday, and appears on track to make it back on the field, possibly on Sunday when the Chargers hit the road to face the Jacksonville Jaguars.
“It felt good,” Floyd said. “I feel like I’ve got full range of motion. I’m just excited the coaches let me go back out there. The coaches know best, but hopefully I get to play this game and can be there for my teammates.
“The training staff did a great job, (head trainer James Collins) and the crew. Just being knowledgeable about the shoulder and what muscles to strengthen.”
Along with Floyd, tight end Ladarius Green (ankle), nose tackle Sean Lissemore (concussion) and ankle Manti Te’o (ankle) were limited participants on Thursday.
Tackle King Dunlap (ankle), guard D.J. Fluker (concussion), defensive tackle Corey Liuget (foot) and safety Eric Weddle (groin) did not practice for the second straight day.
Safety Jahleel Addae (concussion) and tight end Antonio Gates (hip) were full participants.
With the benefit of the bye week for some extra time for rehabilitation, Floyd missed just one game so far because of his injury, San Diego’s loss last week against the Kansas City Chiefs.
With No. 1 receiver Keenan Allen out for the rest of the year due to a lacerated kidney, the Chargers could use Floyd’s veteran presence and ability to stretch the defense.
“Any time you have a big-play receiver, it just loosens things up,” Chargers offensive coordinator Frank Reich said. “To be able to mix things up, to do all of the things we do and really have an efficient short-to-intermediate passing game, yet to still have that deep threat I think helps everything.”
With six games left in his pro career, Floyd said it’s important for him to finish his career out on the field.
“I’ve been with Philip (Rivers), (Antonio) Gates and (Eric) Weddle for so long,” Floyd said. “They’re my brothers. And I really don’t want to leave them out there by themselves sort of. We’ve got a lot of other guys that step up to make plays. I stretch the field, and I know we need that.”