On offense, the Chargers are their healthiest in several weeks.

Tight ends Antonio Gates and Ladarius Green are running faster now, having recovered from injury.

Receiver Stevie Johnson, whose speed fluctuated in a comeback from a Week 4 hamstring injury, showed more zip of late, notably in the 31-25 win last week over the favored Jacksonville Jaguars.

Johnson matched the seven catches from the previous week that was a season mark for him, and set another 2015 personal standard with 92 receiving yards.


Healthy all along, Dontrelle Inman grew in his role as a replacement to Keenan Allen, the No. 1 receiver lost to injury in Week 8. Inman was fluid and fast in and out of breaks, catching a season-high five passes for 63 yards last week.

“A guy like Keenan is hard to replace,” offensive coordinator Frank Reich said Thursday, “but Dontrelle just keeps gaining momentum. We just keep gaining more and more confidence in what he does.”

Malcom Floyd is expected to go against the Broncos on Sunday, in what would be his second game since tearing shoulder cartilage Nov. 9.

All told, the Chargers’ offense is in fairly good health for Week 14. Sidelined are three blockers who were starters entering the season -- King Dunlap, D.J. Fluker and Chris Watt -- but their replacements have made several starts.


“We do feel a little bit of a surge,” Reich said. “And it’s good for this last five-game stretch. We will play good football teams, and we just need to stay healthy and execute and keep playing together.”

If the Chargers have weathered an injury storm, the Broncos’ defense is capable of blowing the house down the road.

Denver ranks first or near first in several defensive categories.

“As a unit, they’re great,” Johnson said.


“There’s just a slim margin of error when you play the best,” Reich said, “and this is arguably the best or one of the best defenses.”