San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers' comeback performance Saturday night in the overtime victory at San Francisco against the 49ers was even grittier than it looked.

Team sources tell ESPN that Rivers is playing with a bulging disk in his lower back that doctors fear is on the brink of being herniated.

The disk caused Rivers to miss practice Wednesday for the first time since 2007 even though the injury began to bother him some three weeks ago.

Rivers has taken epidural injections to reduce swelling, according to sources. He hopes to avoid offseason surgery, but it is an option, according to sources.

Rivers finished 33-for-54 for 356 yards in Saturday's 38-35 overtime victory that helped keep the Chargers' playoff hopes alive. Although he threw three interceptions, he threw four touchdown passes and converted fourth-and-8 and fourth-and-10 on San Diego's final drive of the fourth quarter as the Chargers rallied to win after trailing by 21 points at halftime.