It started in 2004.

A 6-foot-5 wide receiver quietly stood out in his earliest practices. The undrafted rookie from Wyoming then suffered a broken collarbone in training camp, wiping out his preseason. His potential shown to that point, however, was such the Chargers retained him on their practice squad.

Once recovered, he was back at it.

“He’d kill it,” quarterback Philip Rivers said Wednesday.


While Sunday against the Dolphins potentially could be the last game for the Chargers in San Diego, it seems certain it’ll be for Malcom Floyd. The 12-year veteran plans to retire after the season. Rivers said that he hopes to send off his teammate on a high note.

Floyd, 34, has spent each season of his career in San Diego.

That includes his initial one when he first turned heads.

“He would make unbelievable plays every day out there,” said Rivers, a fellow rookie in 2004. “We knew he had a little something to him. He was a little bit raw from a standpoint of routes and technique. But we knew he could make the plays that you couldn’t really explain.


“You’d look around and go, ‘Man, he keeps doing that.’ The first time, it was a little lucky. The second time, it was, ‘Man, he got lucky again.’ Then, it became, ‘That’s just what he does.’ It started way back then.”

Since 2004, Floyd’s 17.3 average yards per reception is second-highest in the NFL among players with at least 300 catches. Only Redskins wide receiver DeSean Jackson, at 17.6, averages more.

Floyd downplayed Sunday being his final home game.

His team is 3-10. It has scored three points in three of the past four games. It very well could hit him come game day, but he doesn’t want to make it about him.


“I don’t want get too emotional,” said Floyd, who plans to live in San Diego following his retirement. “There’s a lot going on. … My focus right now is just trying to win this game. I’m so mad about how the season is going. I just want to win this game.”

Nuts ‘n’ Bolts

• Wide receiver Dontrelle Inman (neck) returned to practice Wednesday as a full participant. He and wide receiver Stevie Johnson (groin) missed Sunday’s loss in Kansas City. Both were injured on Dec. 6. Johnson has yet to practice since.

• Left tackle King Dunlap (ankle), left guard Orlando Franklin (illness) and tight end Ladarius Green (ankle) also did not practice. Cornerback Steve Williams (hip), nose tackle Sean Lissemore (shoulder) and wide receiver Javontee Herndon (shoulder) were limited participants.

• Waived on Monday, quarterback Brad Sorensen cleared waivers Tuesday. He was signed back to the roster on Wednesday.


• Former Chargers kicker John Carney is holding a camp, Carney Kicking Challenge, this Saturday at Cathedral Catholic High. Registration is open to active high school and college kickers or punters. More information is available at carneycoaching.com.