San Diego Chargers get veteran tight end Antonio Gates back after he spent the last four weeks serving his NFL mandated suspension for violating the substance abuse policy after testing positive for performance enhancing drugs.
Speaking about his return, Gates shared his mindset.
“Frank (Reich) had a term about rebooting, and that’s kind of basically what I’ve done,” Gates said via the team’s official site. “It’s like it’s all new again. It’s a new fresh start, and you have to come in and establish yourself all over again.”
Interestingly enough, Gates admits that he didn’t watch any of the Chargers’ televised games over the past four weeks.
“Ironically, I didn’t watch any games. I watched it from the phone or from the computer,” Gates said. “I didn’t want to hear what they had to say. I didn’t want to be tarnished with any word play that they were going to use in terms of me or what I brought to the table. I wanted to come back with a clear mind and just be able to help.”
Gates couldn’t be returning at a more perfect time. The team just had Malcom Floyd go down with a concussion and Stevie Johnson exited last Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury.
Gates needs just one more touchdown to reach 100. He is the Chargers all-time receiving leader with 788 catches, 10,014 yards and 99 touchdowns. He has been Philip Rivers’ rock since the quarterback started in 2006. Despite his glorious career, Gates said he is a bit nervous to return to the field.
We’ll see how long those nerves last when he suit up to play for the Chargers, who host the Pittsburgh Steelers for Monday Night Football in Week 5.