Many players were noticeably absent Wednesday when the San Diego Chargers reconvened as a full team for the first time since their playoff loss to the New York Jets.
Some were expected. Outside linebacker Shawne Merriman, left tackle Marcus McNeill and wide receivers Vincent Jackson and Malcom Floyd are unhappy about their contracts, so they're staying away from the three-day minicamp. The NFL's unsettled labor situation cost them the chance to become unrestricted free agents and make much more money than they've been offered by the Chargers as restricted free agents.
Two absences were unexpected.
Six-time Pro Bowl tight end Antonio Gates was in North Carolina being examined by a foot specialist for an "issue" that coach Norv Turner didn't fully explain. Also missing was safety Kevin Ellison, whom coach Norv Turner told to stay away from minicamp after being arrested on suspicion of possessing a controlled substance.
It was a curious move, considering that other players have shown up at the Chargers' next practice after they've had run-ins with the law.
Police in Redondo Beach, Calif., said Ellison was arrested Monday afternoon after police stopped him for speeding in a school zone near his former high school and found 100 Vicodin pills in his car's center console.
"This thing happened, obviously, a couple of days ago, and really, I haven't had time to sort it out, so I asked Kevin to stay away," Turner said Wednesday. "We have a week off next week in terms of our offseason program, and we can find out a little bit more about the situation. ... I didn't personally want the distraction this weekend. I didn't want to spend a lot of time talking about it, so I'm not going to."
Ellison's agent, Jerome Stanley, told the San Diego Union-Tribune on Tuesday that his client didn't realize the Vicodin was a controlled substance and the pills "were for him to use because of his knee surgery." However, a league source told NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora on Wednesday that the Vicodin didn't come from the Chargers.
Ellison started nine games as a rookie for the Chargers in 2009, but his hold on a roster spot might be tenuous. The team drafted Kansas safety Darrell Stuckey in the fourth round.
"It's not a good thing," Turner said about Ellison missing practice time.
Gates was being examined by a foot specialist in North Carolina. Turner, loath to discuss injuries even in late May, declined to provide specifics.
"He's had soreness, and it's nothing that's long-term," Turner said. "It's nothing that we have a major concern about, but it's something we want to take care of now instead of letting it turn into something that's lingering."
Gates had surgery in 2008 to fix a foot injury that bothered him during the 2007 season, and he played through pain the past two years. A team spokesman told NFL.com "it's a possibility" that Gates could return for the minicamp.
Ryan Mathews, a running back whom the Chargers took No. 12 overall in the April draft, practiced for the first time with his new team. He'll replace LaDainian Tomlinson, who was released in late February and signed with the New York Jets.
Quarterback Philip Rivers gave Mathews a high-five at the start of practice.
"He noticed that I was nervous a little bit," Mathews said. "He said to just relax and have fun out there. This is fun. It's intense."
Notes: DE Travis Johnson signed his one-year, $1.226 million contract tender from the Chargers. ... Oft-injured WR Craig Davis was shaken up toward the end of the morning practice when he went up for a pass and collided with S Eric Weddle. Davis sat out the remainder of the practice. ... Kicker Nate Kaeding, who's rehabilitating a groin injury that he sustained during practice before the Pro Bowl in Jaunary, kicked at full speed and said he felt fine. "It's all good," he said. Kaeding missed three field-goal attempts during the Chargers' 17-14 playoff loss to the Jets.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
