When Ladainian Tomlinson was on the roster, the Chargers had him sit out all preseason games in order to preserve him for the season. Now, should we do the same thing with the vet Antonio Gates?

Gates missed a lot of time last season with a bad foot, so it seems beneficial to keep him away from the contact. The games are meaningless and the Chargers coaching staff already know what he can do. Philip Rivers and Gates have been teammates for years and they will get their rhythm during practices. Why risk him in preseason?

If Gates sits, it gives more opportunities for Ladarius Green and Donta Rosario to get into the action. Rosario and possibly Randy McMichael are on the bubble, so both need to step in and make plays during the preseason.

The Chargers already have had a couple of scares in training camp with injuries with Charlie Whitehurst and Jared Gaither. It doesn’t seem worth the risk.