Chargers suffer big loss on offensive line
Through two games the San Diego Charger rushing attack has not been very good, totaling just 130 yards to rank second-to-last in the NFL. Thus the last thing the Bolts need is a season-ending injury to a starting offensive lineman, but that’s what they may be facing with center Nick Hardwick.
He will be out until at least December and perhaps the rest of this season after having surgery on his left ankle to tighten a ligament. It is not known whether the Chargers will place Hardwick on injured reserve, as they could decide to save a roster spot in case he can come back to help for a possible postseason run.
Hardwick was injured in the third quarter of the Chargers’ season-opening victory at Oakland and missed last week’s home loss to the Ravens. Scott Mruczkowski has been filling in for Hardwick and will continue to do so.
“It (stinks) that Nick got hurt and is going to miss some time because he’s a great player and a great guy,” Mruczkowski said. “But any chance I’ve got a week to start and a week to play, I’m going to be ready for it and be as prepared as I possibly can for it.”
Mruczkowski has just three career starts in five NFL seasons and one at center. Normally a backup guard, Mruczkowski was moved to center in the spring.
“It’s tough to lose him for any amount of time,” coach Norv Turner said of Hardwick. “We’re fortunate to have Scott. We made that move in April. We’re fortunate we made it back then so we’re not trying to catch up even more than we are right now.”
Running back LaDainian Tomlinson and rookie right guard Louis Vasquez have sat out practice all this week again, and Turner hinted that Tomlinson (ankle) and Vasquez (knee) might miss their second straight game when the Chargers (1-1) host the Miami Dolphins (0-2) on Sunday – San Diego is a 6-point favorite on WagerWeb.com.
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