Who very well could be the starting center for the Chargers in 2016 still had a road to go Saturday morning, Max Tuerk limited to mental reps in rookie minicamp as veteran Matt Slauson was believed to be somewhere en route on his drive — yes, drive —from Chicago.

Tuerk is rehabbing a knee injury.

Slauson is expected to practice Monday.

For both, working into the fold largely will be mental.


Slauson appears to be the favorite for the Chargers’ starting center job in 2016. At least, he is expected to handle most first-team reps this spring, as Tuerk recovers from an October anterior cruciate ligament tear and returning centers Chris Watt and Trevor Robinson work back from injuries that ended their 2015 season. For all the discord, the team is confident the position will come together.

They have time.

Slauson, 30, has yet to sign the two-year contract to which he agreed May 7, but that should be finalized shortly upon his arrival, pending a physical. Once done, the Chargers will have added a veteran with relevant experience, having played for the Bears under former offensive coordinator Adam Gase last year.

Gase learned under coach Mike McCoy in Denver.


“I don’t think we’ll skip a beat with him coming,” McCoy said of Slauson, who also notably played for Chargers assistant O-line coach Dave DeGuglielmo with the Jets in 2012. “He’s got a lot to learn — don’t get me wrong there. But I think coming from Chicago, being with Adam, … very similar terminology. … He’s ahead of the game already. Now, he just needs to learn (O-line coach Jeff Davidson’s) terminology, some protections that are obviously different here than other places he’s been.

“But Philip (Rivers), I promise you, he’ll get him up to speed there. There probably will be some early meetings or extra meetings or phone calls at night that Philip does with all the players here. We’re very excited to have (Slauson) here.”

Naturally, the learning curve for a rookie figures to be steeper.

Tuerk, a third-round pick from USC, is considered on schedule from reconstructive knee surgery. The Chargers hold his football intelligence in high regard, drafting him last month with the belief he could figure into their starter equation despite the injury.


Still, they’ll ease him along here in the spring.

He largely has been a spectator in this weekend’s minicamp, which concludes Sunday. The final day is closed both to the media and public.

Same ol’ story

Tight end Hunter Henry ran smooth routes Friday, catching every pass thrown in his direction. He did again Saturday. Joey Bosa made blockers look silly Friday during team drills. He did again Saturday.


Nothing new here.

The standouts from the Chargers’ second day of rookie minicamp were the same as their first. The only difference this time, really, was that more than 1,000 fans were in attendance. The team made the minicamp open to the public for the first time in years, collecting signatures on-site for their downtown stadium initiative.

Bosa, one pass-rush move after another, and Henry, catch after catch, gave a good show.

Their performances should be kept in perspective. Both are still getting acclimated, Henry having just arrived into town Thursday. And they aren’t without the occasional mistake any rookie would be expected to commit.


But you want your first- and second-round picks to dominate the weekend.

Bosa and Henry have.

Nuts ‘n’ Bolts

• McCoy was asked Saturday what differences he sees between the Bosa on game film at Ohio State to the Bosa up close on the practice field. “He’s wearing No. 99 and in our uniform,” McCoy said. “You see him still flash the same way.”


• Rivers and his two sons stood at midfield Saturday for the morning session. He can throw to Henry at practice Monday.

• Rookie fullback Derek Watt received advice from older brother J.J., the Texans’ All-Pro defensive end, before minicamp. “Work hard and keep your mouth shut,” said Watt, a sixth-round pick from Wisconsin. “Let your (play) on the field do the talking. Open eyes, open ears. Take in as much as possible, and do whatever they ask you to do.” Watt has shown good hands out of the backfield early.