The 32-year-old likely is best known to Patriots fans for two things: screaming about New England players being disrespectful after a 2006 playoff loss, and playing with a torn ACL in the 2007 AFC Championship game in Foxborough.

They’ve fallen off that pace in the past four seasons, but Rivers remains a respected quarterback. Since Mike McCoy took over as San Diego head coach in 2013, Rivers’s numbers have taken a step forward. His completion percentage has increased (69.1 percent this season) and his touchdown-to-interception ratio has improved (25 TDs, 10 INTs).

SAN DIEGO — Many years ago, the Chargers were consistently one of the AFC’s best teams, with three seasons of 11 or more wins in Philip Rivers’s first four years as starting quarterback.


Patriots coach Bill Belichick spoke to the media before Wednesday’s workout. K.C. Alfred/UT San Diego/Zuma Press/Zuma Press

“Love Rivers,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said Wednesday when asked about coaching him at the 2009 Pro Bowl. “[He’s] really a football guy; very into it. We had a lot of great conversations about just football and he’s very competitive, really smart, has a great understanding and feel for the game. I really enjoyed coaching him. He was outstanding.”

Despite having a new offensive coordinator this season (Frank Reich replaced Ken Whisenhunt), Rivers is fundamentally the same player, Belichick said.

“He can attack the defense at all three levels, has great poise and presence in the pocket. He has deceptive mobility,” Belichick said. “He runs and is more active maybe than what he gets credit for, what you think he is. He’s got a good touch on the ball, does a good job using all his receivers, gets the ball to the backs, obviously the tight ends, the receivers down field on catch-and-run plays and on downfield routes. [He] reads blitz and those type of coverages well, gets the ball out in a hurry. He’s been pretty good for a long time.”


Rivers is the most recent top-level quarterback the Patriots have faced this season. Past opponents included Peyton Manning, Andrew Luck, and last week, Aaron Rodgers.

“Very challenging. One of the best quarterbacks in the league,” Darrelle Revis said. “He’s very smart. If he catches fire he can be very dangerous in the passing game. He has a lot of weapons to throw to, especially Antonio Gates, so we definitely . . . have another one on our hands.”

Praise for Seau

He doesn’t have a vote, but Belichick said there is no doubt in his mind that Junior Seau belongs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The late linebacker is up for induction for the first time this year. A San Diego legend, Seau grew up in the city and then was drafted by the Chargers, where he played for 13 seasons, 12 of them as a Pro Bowler and eight times an All-Pro selection.

After being traded to Miami in 2003, Seau spent three seasons with the Dolphins, then announced his retirement. But just days later, Belichick convinced him to play for the Patriots, which he did for parts of four seasons.

“Tremendous. I loved Junior and his family. [I] was out here for the funeral and it was very emotional,” Belichick said. “Nobody loved the game more than Junior did. Nobody would be more deserving to be in the Hall of Fame than Junior Seau.

“All-time leader in tackling, but more than stats, his love of the game, his passion for the game, and the high level that he played at at a very difficult position. I mean, him, Clay Matthews [Jr.], guys to play as long as they did at that position as well as he did is phenomenal. He is so deserving. I hope it happens.”


Seau is one of 26 semifinalists for induction in 2015. The final class will be selected Jan. 31, the day before the Super Bowl, in Phoenix.

On May 2, 2012, the NFL was rocked when Seau, a player many looked up to and played with or against, killed himself.

Injury updates

The Patriots’ first practice of the week was held in shells and unnumbered jerseys at the University of San Diego’s Torero Stadium. In addition to the quarterbacks, long snapper Danny Aiken (concussion) also wore a red non-contact jersey.

Two players did not practice: wide receiver Aaron Dobson (hamstring) and linebacker Chris White (ankle). Dobson was hurt during Sunday’s game against the Packers, and White was hurt during practice in the days leading up to the game.

Aiken was one of 10 players who were limited. Others were: CB Kyle Arrington (ankle), OL Dan Connolly (ankle), DL Dominique Easley (knee), WR Julian Edelman (thigh), OL Cameron Fleming (ankle), LB Dont’a Hightower (shoulder), DL Chandler Jones (hip), WR Brandon LaFell (shoulder), and RB Shane Vereen (ankle).

QB Tom Brady (ankle) and OL Marcus Cannon (hip) were full participants.

For the Chargers, five players did not practice: NT Ryan Carrethers (elbow), OLB Dwight Freeney (not injury related), DT Corey Liuget (knee), G Ryan Miller (groin), and C Chris Watt (calf). ILB Andrew Gachkar (knee) was limited.


Woodhead tribute

Former Patriots running back Danny Woodhead has spent much of this season, his second with San Diego, on injured reserve because of a broken leg suffered Sept. 21 against Buffalo. But as his current team prepares to face his former team, Woodhead’s friend and fellow back Ryan Mathews made sure Woodhead was represented at practice Wednesday, wearing No. 39 instead of his No. 24.

“Danny has been a great teammate, but more than that, a great friend. It stinks not having him with us on the field, so we’re keeping alive his spirit and everything,” Mathews told local reporters. “It’s Patriots week, so I decided to wear his jersey.”

Mathews added he “got tired” of not seeing Woodhead, in his jersey, on the practice field, so he brought it out for the week’s practices.

Related:

■ Patriots are all business on San Diego trip

■ On Football: Like Patriots, Chargers turned their season around

Shalise Manza Young can be reached at syoung@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @shalisemyoung.