SAN DIEGO -- ChargersPro Bowl center Nick Hardwick is expected to be out three to four weeks with a sprained right foot.
The prognosis was the best Hardwick could hope for, and since the Chargers have their bye this Sunday, that means he'll probably miss two or three games.
"It's good news," said Hardwick, who was on crutches.
Hardwick was injured early during Sunday's 28-14 win over Oakland -- when LaDainian Tomlinson rushed for 198 yards and four touchdowns -- and was expecting the worst. An MRI on Monday confirmed the initial diagnosis of a sprain.
"It's always the case when it doesn't feel good when it happens, and the next day the spirits get down a little bit," Hardwick said. "You've got to find out what's going on inside of there."
Cory Withrow did an admirable job filling in for Hardwick.
"They'll be fine without me," Hardwick said. "They're going to keep rocking and working hard. Cory's going to do a good job. It's frustrating for sure not to be in there. I wanted to be in there when L.T. ran for 198 yards, of course. But I wasn't, we got a win, so, really, who cares?"
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press
