Los Angeles Chargers’ Philip Rivers works out during practice at the NFL football team’s minicamp Wednesday,June 13, 2018, in Costa Mesa, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

Los Angeles Chargers’ Joey Bosa warms up during practice at the NFL football team’s minicamp Wednesday,June 13, 2018, in Costa Mesa, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

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Los Angeles Chargers’ Detrez Newsome works out during practice at the NFL football team’s minicamp Wednesday,June 13, 2018, in Costa Mesa, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

Los Angeles Chargers’ Rayshawn Jenkins works out during practice at the NFL football team’s minicamp Wednesday,June 13, 2018, in Costa Mesa, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

Los Angeles Chargers’ Hunter Henry watches during practice at the NFL football team’s minicamp Wednesday,June 13, 2018, in Costa Mesa, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)



Los Angeles Chargers’ Jason Verrett watches during practice at the NFL football team’s minicamp Wednesday, June 13, 2018, in Costa Mesa, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

Los Angeles Chargers’ Hunter Henry, right, watches during practice at the NFL football team’s minicamp Wednesday,June 13, 2018, in Costa Mesa, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Gus Bradley watches during practice at the NFL football team’s minicamp Wednesday,June 13, 2018, in Costa Mesa, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Gus Bradley, left, talks with coach Anthony Lynn during practice at the NFL football team’s minicamp Wednesday,June 13, 2018, in Costa Mesa, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

Los Angeles Chargers’ Denzel Perryman works out during practice at the NFL football team’s minicamp Wednesday,June 13, 2018, in Costa Mesa, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)



Los Angeles Chargers’ Philip Rivers watches during practice at the NFL football team’s minicamp Wednesday,June 13, 2018, in Costa Mesa, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

Los Angeles Chargers’ Philip Rivers works out during practice at the NFL football team’s minicamp Wednesday,June 13, 2018, in Costa Mesa, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

Los Angeles Chargers’ Geno Smith works out during practice at the NFL football team’s minicamp Wednesday,June 13, 2018, in Costa Mesa, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

Los Angeles Chargers’ Joey Bosa watches during practice at the NFL football team’s minicamp Wednesday,June 13, 2018, in Costa Mesa, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Gus Bradley watches during practice at the NFL football team’s minicamp Wednesday,June 13, 2018, in Costa Mesa, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)



Los Angeles Chargers’ Jason Verrett works out during practice at the NFL football team’s minicamp Wednesday, June 13, 2018, in Costa Mesa, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

COSTA MESA — The Chargers have reached out to Antonio Gates, but whether or not a reunion is looming remains unclear.

General Manager Tom Telesco said during a Wednesday radio appearance that his team has been in contact with the future Hall of Fame tight end, a discussion that had been suggested but not confirmed for several weeks. Shortly after Hunter Henry’s tore his ACL last month, Telesco left open the possibility that Gates could return, but only in the sense that the team would “look at all the options that are out there.”

The Chargers had not commented specifically on any communication with Gates until this week.

“Obviously, Antonio would be a natural fit,” Telesco said on San Diego station 97.3 FM. “He’s someone that we have talked to. We’ve talked to his representatives. Sometimes, it’s not just as easy as saying, ‘Hey, let’s just bring him back. Let’s go.’”

After earning $5 million last season, Gates could very well be waiting for a similar offer, even though he will turn 38 years old in less than a week.

The 6-foot-4, 255-pound tight end certainly holds more leverage now than he did when the Chargers bid him a public farewell in late April, citing a need to increase Henry’s role in the offense. Although Gates set a career low with just 316 receiving yards last season, Henry’s season-ending injury mostly cleared the depth chart of any proven pass-catchers. (Henry returned to the sideline on Wednesday, watching practice on crutches two weeks after undergoing knee surgery.) Besides veteran Virgil Green, known more for his blocking prowess, none of the tight ends on the current roster has recorded a regular-season catch in the NFL.

The Chargers’ offseason program ends Thursday with the final day of minicamp, and the team reconvenes for training camp on July 28. Given Gates’ familiarity with the offense, a potential signing might not come until well into August.

Slimming down

Denzel Perryman spent part of the offseason bulking up. He’ll have several more weeks to slim back down.

The Chargers linebacker has looked bigger than usual during OTAs and minicamp, the result of extra lifting he added to his training regimen. A year ago, he said he reported for offseason practices at just 210 pounds — prompting a bit of concern.

“Lot of coaches and players thought I was sick,” Perryman said.

The 25-year-old is listed on the roster as being 5-foot-11, 240 pounds. He declined to reveal how much he now weighs, but said he would like to shed another 5 pounds. The addition of center Mike Pouncey, he said, has also added more athleticism for him to contend with on the Chargers offense.

“I am a lot heavier than I was last year at this time,” Perryman said. “So right now I’m just losing a couple of pounds, but I feel good.”

Kicker competition

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Chargers need to involve Austin Ekeler, Keenan Allen to upset Chiefs Caleb Sturgis rested a sore leg on Wednesday, which gave Roberto Aguayo a chance to create a bit of separation in the Chargers’ kicker competition. The former second-round pick made the majority of his eight attempts during practice, but wasn’t flawless.

“He kicked pretty good,” Coach Anthony Lynn said. “The longer distance, he can improve a little bit. And, it probably wasn’t easy with me in his ear the whole time. But, he’s doing well.”

Aguayo made 69 of 78 career field goals at Florida State, but was just 23 of 32 on attempts from 40 yards and beyond. He made 71 percent of his tries as a Tampa Bay rookie in 2016, but has not appeared in a regular-season game since.

Sturgis made 84.8 percent of his field goals in 30 games with the Eagles, but missed nearly all of last season with a hip flexor injury. Lynn said he didn’t want to take any chances with the kicker’s health given that history.

Etc.

Linebacker Kyle Emanuel has not participated in minicamp due to an undisclosed injury, but Lynn expects the fourth-year pro to return for training camp. Cornerback Casey Hayward also remains sidelined with hip soreness. … First-round safety Derwin James made a highlight-reel play on Wednesday, jumping a red-zone route to pick off Rivers. James has practiced primarily at strong safety, but the Chargers will likely move him around the defense more in training camp.