Chargers set to see more than a flash from Gordon
Running back feels better than he has in years, giving offense a reason for optimism.
They call Melvin Gordon “Flash” for obvious reasons — the running back shares a surname with the comic strip character. But last December, Gordon resembled the moniker, giving the Chargers a one-month glimpse of his superhero skills when he’s healthy.
Gordon, who battled knee soreness most of last season, got better as the year went along, saving his best football for the final five games when the stakes were the highest.
“Some guys go through those first eight weeks of the season, guys that are excited to play, excited to put on the uniform, but then it gets old,” Gordon said Tuesday. “Then guys are trying to stay healthy and then guys that were coming in trying to make those tackles aren’t really trying to make those tackles anymore. To me, my mind-set is, I’m going to make you pay.
“You think it’s going to be a breeze your last eight weeks and I’m going to turn it up.”
Though the Chargers love the way Gordon finished 2017 — in December he averaged more than 80 yards rushing a game and more than 40 receiving — they’d like to see those flashes burn longer and brighter.
There’s optimism that Gordon, who is moving well in training camp, can get off to a better start in 2018 for a few reasons: (1.) He’s feeling healthy after scaling back his offseason training, in- cluding skipping some of the Chargers’ voluntary offseason work; (2.) Free agent center Mike Pouncey was signed to beef up the run blocking.
“I feel good,” Gordon said. “I haven’t been feeling like this in a while now — for about a couple years — and I’ve just been having to push through it. I think that little time I took off kind of helped me out a lot.”
Though practice periods for rushing can be tilted toward the defense in training camp, Gordon has made his share of big plays.
“I just see Melvin running around healthy — and when a guy is running around healthy, you know he’s in a different mind-set,” coach Anthony Lynn said. “He’s having fun. ”
Etc.
Rookie linebackers Uchenna Nwosu and Kyzir White missed practice Tuesday because of sore knees, Lynn said. White’s right knee was in a brace as he went through rehab work on a side field. Lynn said Nwosu and White are expected to play Saturday against Seattle. … Cornerback Michael Davis has made the most of first-team reps while Trevor Williams recovers from an ankle injury, playing at a different level than he did during his rookie year. “He’s a guy that’s playing with more confidence,” Lynn said. “He’s more physical. He’s becoming very dependable.” … Philip Rivers threw back-to-back interceptions in seven-on-seven drills, with Desmond King and Casey Hayward picking off the veteran quarterback. Rivers had been nearly interception-free in camp, offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt said.