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Chargers rookie linebacker Manti Te’o has been in a walking boot since injuring his foot during his preseason debut. On Tuesday, the boot came off.

“It’s a step in the right direction and we’re just taking it one step at a time,” coach Mike McCoy told reporters on Tuesday, via quotes distributed by the team. “He’s happy to have the boot off and be able to walk around. We’ve been able to move forward and start messing around with what sort of shoe he will be using moving forward.”

Still, Te’o didn’t participate in practice, and it’s not clear when he will. He could still play in 13 days, when the Chargers launch the regular season.

“I’m not ruling anything out,” McCoy said. “It’s going to be up to how his body recovers before the game on Monday night. We’ll take it one day at a time. When he is out there we’ll see how he is feeling. He knows his body better than anyone so we will just take it one day at a time.”

McCoy quickly has become adept at talking without really saying anything. And so no firm answers will come until next Thursday, when the Chargers begin the process of submitting their injury reports in advance of their Monday night opener.