Even with Mario Edwards practicing this week for the first time in pads, his odds of being activated for this week’s game were slim. Jack Del Rio made it official Friday that Edwards won’t be back for Sunday’s game in San Diego.

“We’ll get him ready for next week,” Del Rio said Friday. “There’s always a chance, but in all likelihood we’ll hold off. I’m giving you more than I really want to give you. The reality is he’s had a good week, and I’d like him to get another good week. He’s getting close.”

Edwards was placed in injured reserve with a hip injury prior to the start of the season and was first eligible to return to practice after week six and return after week eight.

That timetable was extremely optimistic, as it turns out. He began practicing on December 5 which means the team still has 10 days to activate him before they would have to place him on season ending injured reserve. All indications are that they will be activating him this season and that activation could occur prior to the team’s week 16 home game against the Colts on Christmas Eve.

That would be a nice Christmas gift for the fans in attendance.