Antonio Gates Injury: Foot Injury Has Chargers and Fantasy Owners Scared

After being plagued by foot injuries last season, it looks like many of the issues that troubled San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates have returned to hurt him again.

With so much of the season still to go, it will be important for the Chargers to play it smart, and sitting Gates down is the right thing to do so he is healthy for the team’s playoff run.

While it may be the right thing to do for the Chargers, fantasy owners across the country are having a fit after taking Gates with a high draft pick and depending on him to be a fantasy star.

Injury Update

The San Diego Chargers have one of the greatest tight ends of the modern era, but if they can’t get the painful plantar fasciitis in his right foot healed, he won’t be a factor in the NFL ever again.

Chargers fans and fantasy owners have to be seriously concerned over an injury that has lingered since last season, and depending on how the rest helps the injury, it may be closer to the end of the road than anyone anticipated.

When's He Ready to Return?

The reports have been all over the place when it comes to an estimated return date for Gates, but this is the kind of injury that the Chargers need to think long term about.

The smart move is to give Gates as much time as he needs to get his foot healthy and only call upon him when the playoffs come or if the season is on the line towards the end of the year. San Diego has to get him healthy or risk losing him for good.

Fantasy Impact

I know you took him high in the fantasy draft expecting the monster games he has put up on a regular basis when healthy, but that’s the life of a fantasy owner.

While you shouldn’t drop him, you need to make a move and pick up veteran Chargers backup tight end Randy McMichael, who is the perfect temporary solution.

What They're Saying

Gates told ESPN about where he is physically and how frustrating it has been suffering through this nagging injury:

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“It's crazy how many people give me advice on this foot thing," he said. "It's the same thing. It's a nagging issue, but the positive reinforcement is that people say it's minor compared to other injuries that I've been through and played with. It's still an issue of pain, which comes and goes without warning. Until it's all gone, it's going to be one of those deals. All I can do is stay in it mentally. The tough part is that I get paid to stay in it physically. I want to do everything I can to get out there and let my physical ability help this team win.”

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NFL Insider John Clayton is reporting on twitter about Gates' status for Sunday:

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