Philip Rivers became the starting quarterback for the San Diego Chargers when the 2006 NFL season began. Rivers did not miss a game from 2006-2011, which is second among active quarterbacks for consecutive starts, trailing only the New York Giants QB Eli Manning. In Rivers’ first season as the team’s starting QB, Shawne Merriman led the NFL with 17 sacks while missing four games.
After recording 12.5 sacks in 15 games during the 2007 season, Merriman missed 15 games in 2008 while Malcom Floyd was third on the team in receiving yards and he missed three games in 2008.
In 2009, LaDainian Tomlinson had just 730 rushing yards which was his last year with San Diego, he missed two games and although he had 12 rushing touchdowns, Tomlinson averaged a career low 3.3 yards per attempt.
Vincent Jackson led San Diego in receiving yards and touchdown receptions during the 2009 season. Antonio Gates was second in receiving yards and TD receptions during the 2009 season while Floyd was third in receiving yards. Jackson missed 11 games in 2010, Gates missed six games and Floyd missed five games. Rivers led the NFL with 4,710 passing yards while throwing 30 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 2010.
Marcus McNeill was a Pro Bowl left tackle in 2006 and 2007, but he missed five games in 2010 and seven games last season while four time Pro Bowl left guard Kris Dielman missed 10 games last season which gave the Chargers offensive line problems.
Jackson signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the off-season while Dielman retired. Pro Bowl running back Ryan Mathews broke his clavicle in the team’s first preseason game against the Green Bay Packers and could miss the team’s first two regular season games. San Diego needs Rivers to stay healthy if they are going to make it back to the postseason.
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