The Chargers held a sizable edge in health over their Week 1 opponent, a Detroit Lions team that lacked three starters including a defensive star.

The health matchup this time looks even, however.

The Bengals, going into practice Friday, are healthier than the Lions were.

Cincinnati won’t have its best linebacker, Vontaze Burfict, who sat out the season opener and is still recovering from knee surgery -- but of the four Bengals starters who were on Thursday’s injury report, all have practiced to some extent this week.


No one from Cincinnati’s offense was listed with injury.

Call it a health draw now that Chargers right guard D.J. Fluker is down with an ankle injury and another starter, strong safety Jahleel Addae, hasn’t practiced this week.

There’s time for Addae to come back from the ankle injury sustained against Detroit. He knows the defense, reducing the need for practice time.

Even if he sits, the Chargers are in very good health for Week 2.


Fitness showed up

The Chargers also looked the more fit team in the opener. Enhanced no doubt by their efficiency, they wore down the Lions amid 100-degree heat (on the field) at Qualcomm Stadium. John Pagano’s defense rushed to the ball. Rewarded for his avid conditioning and diligent training camp, Keenan Allen played all 79 snaps and caught 15 passes for 166 yards.

Nor, unlike the Lions, had any Chargers player sat out the whole exhibition.

Consider that Lions starters Calvin Johnson and Haloti Ngata went into the game not having played a snap since last winter. Neither player appeared sharp against the Chargers.