Melvin Gordon is ready to move on from his rookie season.

There is just one aspect he must put behind him first.

The Chargers running back participated in on-field drills Monday. Afterward, he acknowledged he is not yet 100 percent, still working back from a January knee procedure. Sources said that Gordon underwent microfracture surgery and was given a recovery timetable of four to six months.

That phrase, microfracture surgery, carries an ominous connotation.


While some past cases warrant the association, a high concern level about Gordon’s short- and long-term recovery is not sensed here. He expects to practice without limitation well before the start of training camp in late July.

“I’m getting better. I’m getting better,” Gordon said. “I’m not where I want to be, but I think I’m ahead of schedule. I’m sprinting pretty well. I’m cutting. … No question, I’ll be ready for training camp. I’m not even worried about that.”

Gordon suffered a small cartilage tear in his left knee on Dec. 20 against the Dolphins. He was placed on injured reserve, missing the final two games. It was known he had surgery on Jan. 5, but until now, its exact nature was unclear.

For many, a flinch or gag reflex follows the surgery type.


That reaction is emboldened in cases like Texans linebacker Jadeveon Clowney; durability has slowed the 2014 first overall pick. Athletes in other sports, including the NBA’s Greg Oden and Tracy McGrady, required it as well. Not all returned to pre-injury form.

But there is hope for Gordon. Not all microfracture surgeries are alike.

1 / 30 San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers works out during a spring practice. (K.C. Alfred) 2 / 30 San Diego Chargers Branden Oliver works out during a spring practice. (K.C. Alfred) 3 / 30 San Diego Chargers fullback Derek Watt works out during a spring practice. (K.C. Alfred) 4 / 30 San Diego Chargers Dontrelle Inman, left, and Danny Woodhead work out during a spring practice. (K.C. Alfred) 5 / 30 San Diego Chargers Darrell Stuckey works out during a spring practice. (K.C. Alfred) 6 / 30 San Diego Chargers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt looks on during a spring practice. (K.C. Alfred) 7 / 30 San Diego Chargers center Matt Slauson works out for the first time with the team, in front of quarterback Philip Rivers. (K.C. Alfred) 8 / 30 San Diego Chargers safety Jahleel Addae works out during a spring practice. (K.C. Alfred) 9 / 30 San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers works out during a spring practice. (K.C. Alfred) 10 / 30 San Diego Chargers center Matt Slauson works out for the first time with the team. (K.C. Alfred) 11 / 30 San Diego Chargers running back Melvin Gordon works out during an offseason practice. (K.C. Alfred) 12 / 30 San Diego Chargers quarterbacks Bryn Renner, left, Kellen Clemens, and Philip Rivers work out during an offseason practice. (K.C. Alfred) 13 / 30 San Diego Chargers Keenan Allen makes a catch during an offseason practice. (K.C. Alfred) 14 / 30 San Diego Chargers wide receiver Travis Benjamin leaves the field after an offseason practice. (K.C. Alfred) 15 / 30 San Diego Chargers Danny Woodhead works out during an offseason practice. (K.C. Alfred) 16 / 30 San Diego Chargers wide receiver Javontee Herndon makes a catch during an offseason practice. (K.C. Alfred) 17 / 30 he San Diego Chargers offense runs a play during an offseason practice. (K.C. Alfred) 18 / 30 he San Diego Chargers offense runs a play during an offseason practice. (K.C. Alfred) 19 / 30 San Diego Chargers running back Melvin Gordonl works out during an offseason practice. (K.C. Alfred) 20 / 30 San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers works out during an offseason practice. (K.C. Alfred) 21 / 30 San Diego Chargers cornerback Jason Verrett works out during an offseason practice. (K.C. Alfred) 22 / 30 San Diego Chargers running back Melvin Gordon works out during an offseason practice. (K.C. Alfred) 23 / 30 San Diego Chargers running back Melvin Gordon works out during an offseason practice. (K.C. Alfred) 24 / 30 Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers talks the media after the first offseason workout. (K.C. Alfred) 25 / 30 Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers talks the media after the first offseason workout. (K.C. Alfred) 26 / 30 Chargers Jason Verrett walks out to team’s first offseason workout. (K.C. Alfred) 27 / 30 Chargers, Jason Verrett, left, Matt Daniels, and Darrell Stuckey work out with a medicine ball during the team’s first offseason workout. (K.C. Alfred) 28 / 30 Chargers Jason Verrett works out with a medicine ball during the team’s first offseason workout. (K.C. Alfred) 29 / 30 Chargers Jahleel Addae walks out to the team’s first offseason workout. (K.C. Alfred) 30 / 30 Chargers Brandon Mebane gets a drink of water during an offseason workout. (K.C. Alfred)

The general procedure works to repair torn cartilage by creating tiny holes in a neighboring bone, stimulating blood flow to the affected area. New, albeit weaker cartilage is created, similar to a street pothole being filled. Recovery ranges on such factors as the size and location of the cartilage lesion.


San Diego native Reggie Bush reportedly had microfracture surgery following his 2008 season.

Like Gordon, he was a running back who had it performed by Dr. James Andrews. Like Gordon, his timetable targeted a full return by the team’s June minicamp. Bush averaged a career-high 5.6 yards per carry in the ensuing year. In all, he has played seven NFL seasons post-surgery, including 2011-2013 when he averaged 266 offensive touches and 1,391 yards from scrimmage per season.

“Typically, I know especially in the NBA and the NFL, when people hear ‘microfracture surgery,’ they are going to think it could be a potentially career-ending injury,” said Dr. Brian Schulz, an orthopedic surgeon at Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles. “Normally, it’s more directly related to the size of the defect, what’s going on in the rest of the knee. If it’s a relatively small lesion that’s localized to a specific point, the microfracture has worked pretty well, even in professional athletes. ... I don’t think microfracture is quite the kiss of death that everyone makes it out to be.”

Gordon’s ongoing rehab is one last reminder of his rookie year.


Otherwise, he is determined to leave it behind.

As a first-round draft pick, he had high hopes both for the Chargers and himself entering the 2015 campaign. Neither materialized. The team finished 4-12, as the collective running game faltered to a league-low 3.5 yards per carry. Gordon showed early flashes but did not find the end zone. He had 184 carries for 641 yards and 33 catches for 192.

Be it through changes in coaching or player personnel, the organization has worked to better set up Gordon for success. It entered this offseason with a firm belief that its failures in the ground game extended beyond one man’s struggles.

Gordon said Monday that it isn’t difficult to turn the page from last year.


“It’s something easy to forget,” Gordon said. “There’s nothing to remember about that. We had a bad season as a team. There’s just nothing to remember, really. We don’t want to go through that again. Obviously, we’re going to remember the losses and things like that — you remember what not to do. But we’re going to be all right.”

The Chargers believe he will be all right.

While they generally don’t comment on such matters of player health, their actions speak louder than words.

They had free agency and the draft to address the running back position if there was doubt about Gordon’s ability to recover from the knee surgery. No veteran running back has been signed. No running back was drafted. There arguably is no stronger testament to the confidence surrounding Gordon and his recovery than Danny Woodhead, Branden Oliver, Dreamius Smith and undrafted rookie Kenneth Farrow being the only other halfbacks on the Chargers’ 90-man roster today.