Brandon Flowers returned to practice this week in non-contact sessions but Sunday will miss his fourth consecutive game with a concussion he sustained Sept. 25.

“Football’s a nasty sport,” Flowers said Friday.

The cornerback said he’s played through several other injuries. But a concussion is different.

“My other body parts, you can muscle through it — but concussions are a serious matter,” Flowers said. “One thing you don’t play with when it comes to injuries is your brain.”


Flowers, 30, was concussed attempting to tackle a Colts running back in the open field and also taking a hit from linebacker Denzel Perryman.

The 5-foot-9, 187-pound Flowers thudded to the synthetic turf at Lucas Oil Stadium and did not appear immediately responsive when Chargers personnel checked on him.

“It can happen on any play to anybody,” Flowers said. “I just got the bad part of it.”

In his three seasons with San Diego, Flowers has sustained three reported concussions.


He returned to practice Wednesday, working in individual drills before sitting out the padded, contact session.

He is to undergo more concussion-related testing this weekend.

“It felt good to move around,” he said. “Everything is going in the right direction.”

Flowers was improved from last season in his games before the injury this year. He was working more as an inside defender.


Against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the second game, Sept. 18, he made an aggressive rush into the backfield that pressured quarterback Blake Bortles into an interception.

Second-year player Craig Mager, who figures to go against the Falcons on Sunday in Atlanta, has filled the bulk of Flowers’ duties.

Flowers was asked Friday if he expects to play again this season. “I hope that wasn’t my last play of the season,” he said. “I’ve just got to keep praying and stay positive.”

Addae, Attaochu out

The Chargers also listed Jahleel Addae (collarbone) and Jerry Attaochu (ankle) out on their injury report for the Atlanta game.


Addae was a limited participant this week in his comeback from a collarbone injury. Attaochu didn’t practice this week.

Benjamin on track?

WR Travis Benjamin worked as a limited participant for the second day after missing two practices with a knee ailment.

The team listed him questionable.

The Falcons listed no starters as questionable or out, but lost a valuable defensive lineman, Derrick Shelby, to a season-ending injury last Sunday.


Ws whet appetite

From one week to the next, the Chargers are an upbeat, energetic presence in practice sessions open to the media and afterward in interviews.

Veterans acknowledged this week that the recent win over the AFC West-leading Broncos engendered extra-positive vibes at Chargers Park over the days that followed.

“It feels just more upbeat because guys are ready to get it going,” nose tackle Brandon Mebane said Friday while the team packed for the trip to Atlanta. “Because we know as a team we’re better than what our record says. And I think that a lot of people know that, too — people that know football. Any time you win, it’s positive. No matter how you win, it’s positive.”

Philip Rivers said the morning after the victory, which came after three consecutive defeats by a total of eight points, was “awesome.”


Receiver Dontrelle Inman said food tastes better after the Chargers win.

Tom.Krasovic@SDUnionTribune.com; Twitter: SDUTKrasovic