In a recent comment to teammate Hunter Henry, Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers told the rookie tight end: “Your catches are coming.”

Rivers threw no passes to Henry last week in the rout of Jacksonville, but the doubtful status of tight end Antonio Gates for this Sunday’s game points toward Henry getting pass targets at Indianapolis.

The 6-foot-5 rookie, who averaged four catches per game with Arkansas last year, has one catch in two targets.

“We feel like he’s a tremendous receiver,” offensive coordinator Ken Whisehunt said, “but when you’ve got a guy like Gates that’s a pretty good receiver, too, it doesn’t give you as many opportunities.”


Justifiably, Chargers coaches and players belabor the point that Henry, 21, is aiding the Bolts as a blocker.

While touchdown catches and receiving yards define a tight end in the view of many NFL consumers, teams themselves value a player on his entire contribution to the game’s outcome.

“It seems like in the league of fantasy football that, (receiving production) is what everybody’s judged by,” Whisenhunt said, “but he’s done a really good job in the blocking aspect of the game.”

Rivers said Henry provides a double threat that makes San Diego’s offense more potent.


“We’re very multiple; it’s not just a run personnel group and a pass personnel group,” he said of an offense that’s second of 32 NFL teams in scoring, second in passing touchdowns and third in rushing yards per game. “We can do everything from (formations with Henry), and that certainly eliminates some tendencies.”

Henry operates in Whisenhunt’s world, where winning the game is paramount.

Though he caught a 20-yard pass in the season opener as part of a 30-snap NFL debut, the rookie termed the defeat to the Chiefs as “sickening.”

He smiled this week as he reviewed the win over the Jaguars.


Playing 39 snaps this time, Henry lined up at several spots and again made an array of effective blocks.

Two plays stood out: 1) from a wing spot, Henry adjusted to a new defensive look and (with tackle Joe Barskdale’s help) sealed off Jags defenders to pave Melvin Gordon’s 21-yard run on the opening touchdown drive; 2) moving to the perimeter, Henry walled off a pass defender to set up a touchdown that put Gates, a mentor, six TDs behind Tony Gonzalez, the NFL’s career leader in career TD catches by a tight end.

“It’s cool to be able to block for a guy like that,” Henry said. “It’s a Hall of Famer; we’re trying to inch him closer to breaking the record, and that’s one closer.”

Bosa, Addae out

As expected, the Chargers ruled Joey Bosa (hamstring) and Jahleel Addae (clavicle) out for Sunday’s game (1:25 p.m.) against the Colts.


Bosa was a limited participant in all three practices this week, however, after missing every practice of the previous week. Coach Mike McCoy said the rookie defensive end made a “critical” first step by getting work done in pads Wednesday for the first time since January, when he was with Ohio State.

The Chargers listed Gates (hamstring) as doubtful after he was a non-participant Friday.

The Colts ruled out former Chargers cornerback Patrick Robinson (concussion). Robinson’s replacement with the Chargers, newcomer Casey Hayward, had two interceptions last week.

Though the Colts listed quarterback Andrew Luck and No. 1 receiver T.Y. Hilton as questionable, McCoy said he expects both to play.


Protests during anthem

McCoy said he has not talked to Chargers tackle Joe Barksdale about his plan to raise a fist during the national anthem in protest of police wrongdoings against African-Americans. Barksdale was joined by Chargers linemate Chris Hairston in the gesture before last Sunday’s game at Qualcomm Stadium and has said other teammates may join him before Sunday’s game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

“Everyone has their rights, what they can do,” McCoy said Friday. “So, it hasn’t been an issue here.”


Tom.Krasovic@SDUnionTribune.com; Twitter: SDUTKrasovic