Jump to content
[[Template core/front/custom/_customHeader is throwing an error. This theme may be out of date. Run the support tool in the AdminCP to restore the default theme.]]

Gates has torn plantar fascia


budlitebrad
 Share

Recommended Posts

Another Gates injury revealed

 

By Kevin Acee

 

Wednesday, November 3, 2010 at 6:54 p.m.

 

Antonio Gates was wheeling around Wednesday on a scooter that kept his right foot off the ground.

 

That’s the opposite foot from the toe and ankle injuries that were known to be hobbling him the past two weeks.

 

In the second half of Sunday’s game against the Tennessee Titans, a game in which he caught five passes for 123 yards, Gates popped the plantar fascia in his right foot. Plantar fasciitis is the ailment for which Gates sought a medical opinion in May, but it had not bothered him this season until he attempted to compensate for the injuries around his left foot in the Chargers’ Oct. 24 loss to New England.

 

“My (right) foot was on fire,” Gates said of the aftermath of the Patriots game. “It was so bad, it was like my toe and ankle didn’t bother me anymore.”

 

The breaking of the plantar fascia actually allows for healing, eliminating the tightness with which Gates had to play against Tennessee. The plantar fascia is a band that runs from the heel to the toes and works with the arch of the foot when the foot pushes off. The tearing is extremely painful.

 

“It’s the worst feeling in the world,” Gates said. “Sometimes you feel your career is coming to an end.”

 

Monday, Gates had to be driven to his car in a cart because he couldn’t walk.

 

Dr. Phillip Kwong, a foot specialist with the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic, said people find it difficult to walk for two weeks or more after tearing a plantar fascia.

 

“I think it’s going to be really tough to play with any proficiency this Sunday, unless they do a remarkable job anesthetizing him,” Kwong said. “… He has a lot of demands on him at his position,” Kwong said. “This injury will make it difficult for him to push off and be explosive.”

 

Gates has been able to play in relative comfort thanks to pain killing injections, but the hurt is almost intolerable when those wear off.

 

Gates declared privately after the Titans game he was out for this Sunday at Houston.

 

“I was in so much pain,” Gates said. “… But you take steps, you prepare the right way. I hope I can go.”

 

He described the scooter and other measures he is going through as giving him “a chance” to face the Texans.

 

“That’s how important this game is,” he said. “I know I said last week’s game was important. But the fact we won makes this game even more important.”

 

Awesome.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Amazing what guys like Gates will go through to play. You can't coach heart. Any chance that continued play with a torn plantar fascia would cause long-term issues or further injury? I'm guessing they wouldn't let him play if that was the case, but who knows...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Any chance that continued play with a torn plantar fascia would cause long-term issues or further injury? I'm guessing they wouldn't let him play if that was the case, but who knows...

I don't believe so. It's just a matter of how much pain he can endure while playing.

 

He plays at a very high level even though he is in pain almost every week. He never complains, is never a distraction off the field, and is the consumate team player in the locker room. When you add to that all the good things he does for kids and numerous charities in the community, it's easy to see why he is so beloved here in SD.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I pushed the panic button already, getting McMicheal off waivers. This is in a TE heavy scoring system, and V Davis is on a bye to boot (pun not intended).

 

TE's went from deep and studly to piss poor and shallow as a puddle this year. Nothing on the waiver wire at all.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

(RotoWire) Floyd (hamstring) did not practice Wednesday. Analysis: Legedu Naanee did not practice either and with Buster Davis now on IR, it looks like another week of the Chargers rolling with a depleted wideout corps, since both Floyd and Naanee are not expected to be available this weekend. :wacko:

 

Vincent Jackson.. come on down!

Edited by Thews40
Link to comment
Share on other sites

My guess is he'll play, he always does, AND it is a huge game for them, AND they have the following week off for him to rest. Plus when you see this it gives some hope:

 

The breaking of the plantar fascia actually allows for healing, eliminating the tightness with which Gates had to play against Tennessee. The plantar fascia is a band that runs from the heel to the toes and works with the arch of the foot when the foot pushes off. The tearing is extremely painful.

 

 

BUT if they sat him this week heading into the bye giving him basically 3 weeks off from the Tenn game to their next game in week 11 that wouldn't be the worst thing IMO. I would think 3 full weeks off (wouldn't need to practice leading up to the week 11 game and worst case he does some lite practice that Friday) would do wonders for him.

 

So as a Gates owner I actually wouldn't mind him siting for this one game. Big picture to get 3 weeks off would be huge IMO. Just hope they stay in touch as a team otherwise they may shut him down.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So as a Gates owner I actually wouldn't mind him siting for this one game. Big picture to get 3 weeks off would be huge IMO. Just hope they stay in touch as a team otherwise they may shut him down.

 

:wacko: I'm with you, and I'm only 4-4. But I'd still take a donut at TE. Gates' upside is worth that much.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Really hope he sits this week out and comes back in week 11.....im sitting pretty @ 6-2...I can live without him for the next 2 weks if he will be healthy 3 weeks down the road.

 

I'll PM Norv Turner and let him know. Of course, he might want to beat Houston this weekend.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Marathon runner who endured plantar fasciitis in the left foot for over two years. As my ortho told me, it's just a matter of how much pain I could handle. Obviously distance running and playing TE in the NFL puts unique stress' on the condition but I was able to run over 2000 miles in a year while performing speedwork, hill repeats and competing in races, I just found it difficult to run really long distances. Basically every step is a dull ache that progress' to shooting pain. Walking hurts just as much as running. Somedays were better than others but it took acupuncture to finally cure me for good. This is something he'll just have to deal with for the rest of the season but I'm guessing he'll still be productive.

Edited by MothAudio
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just sit the guy so he gets his 2 weeks rest and comes back fresh. Don't they know that I'm (i) facing Gates this week and (ii) planning on playing Ajirotutu if Gates sits?

 

With Floyd, Nanee, et al all injured, I don't understand how TEN allowed a gimpy Gates to have such a big game last week. Shouldn't opposing Ds be double and triple teaming him on every play right now and letting Patrick Crayton try to beat them? Amazing to me that SD has 1 huge weapon on O and TEN didn't focus all of their efforts on shutting him down.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am playing the #2 team in my division which is one game back....I'm not sure if I want him to sit so he'll have 3 weeks of not playing or if I want him to tough it out into the bye...

 

if he can play on it, I think the Chargers need him as a lethal threat in the passing game....

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information